Yvonne Cavanagh, Eucalyptus Ink, cut paper, and watercolor on paper, 14 x 11 inches
Yvonne Cavanagh, Olive Leaves of Athens 1, 2023, Wax on paper, 8 x 10 inches
Yvonne Cavanagh, Collapsed Vessel 7, 2018, Porcelain
Yvonne Cavanagh, Foliage 2, 2023 Wax on paper, 9 x 7 inches
Yvonne Cavanagh, Sea Change 2, 2023 Graphite on paper, 30 x 22 inches
Yvonne Cavanagh: The Blue Door
January 27th-March 16th
Reception January 27th, 3 pm - 6 pm
RAM is pleased to present The Blue Door, a solo exhibition by Bakersfield-based artist Yvonne Cavanagh. The exhibition opens on January 27th and runs through March 16th, 2023.
“This collection originated during my residency at The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Greece and evolved upon my return to California. Primarily a multi-disciplinary artist engaged in ceramics, drawing, and collage, I initially set out to focus on my 2D artwork. Surprisingly, the allure of pottery persisted in my visual narrative, inspired by the exquisite craftsmanship of Nikos Rodios, a third-generation potter renowned for his family's patented luster and indelible black pottery since 1930.
Encountering Rodios and witnessing his delicate, refined forms pivotally influenced my work. The drawings I created on the island were infused with his aesthetic, evolving into collages featuring vases adorned with foliage and imagery. Watercolors, texture rubbings of local flora, and depictions of Rodios's forms coalesced in these compositions.
Upon my return, I further developed the collages, translating them into larger pencil drawings that allowed me to delve into the intricate textures and nuanced values within each piece. The resulting large-scale drawings exude a commanding presence, embodying a sense of strength.
Exploring diverse artistic mediums, I also delved into printing in Skopelos, producing monoprints inspired by indigenous plants. Opting for a blue palette, a homage to the omnipresent hues of the Grecian landscape, particularly the interplay of ocean and sky.
The transformative experience of working in such a vibrant, inspiring environment proved to be profoundly therapeutic. The artwork conceived during this period emanates a spirit of joy, vibrancy, and hopefulness, reflecting the dynamic ebb and flow of life's ups and downs. Embracing the constant flux and evolution, I found liberation in succumbing to the ever-changing nature of existence.” -Yvonne Cavanagh
Yvonne Cavanagh, a native of Kern County, earned a BA in art with an emphasis in ceramics from San Francisco State University in 2003 and an MA in education from the University of La Verne in 2010. She completed her MFA in 2018 from Asuza Pacific University. Cavanagh co-owned Surface Gallery from 2008-2010, where she represented nationally-emerging artists. In 2011, she was awarded a Beautiful Bakersfield Award by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce in the Arts Individual category for her outstanding contributions to the Kern County art community. Yvonne’s solo museum exhibition “Liminal Space” was on display at the Bakersfield Museum of Art from September 2018 through January 2019. In the summer of 2023, she was awarded a 3-week residency at The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Skopelos, Greece. Yvonne teaches ceramics at Bakersfield High School and adjunct ceramics at Bakersfield College.