Mood, energy and emotion are captured in Art & Education at the Hoyt’s latest exhibition of paintings by Debra Shingledecker at The Confluence, January 10-March 22, 2023. The landscapes, florals and still lifes represent the local artist’s immediate response to light, color, texture, pattern and form as she experiences them in third dimension. As a result, the images are fresh, expressive and gestural in nature, reminiscent of the great Expressionists in the early 20th century.
Debra revealed that the emphasis of her paintings are not so much the subjects as it is the handling of paint. In fact, the details are irrelevant to capturing the essence of what she perceives visually and, perhaps, spiritually. She prefers a direct application of paint to canvas without any preconceived planning to ensure a genuinely intuitive response.
As an artist member, Debra Shingledecker is certainly no stranger to Arts & Education at the Hoyt. In fact, her experience predates many transitions the art center has experienced over the last thirty years. Debra was accepted into her first juried art show at the Hoyt in 1991, followed by a purchase award in 1993, and a teaching contract in painting, 1993-94. She was most recently featured in the Hoyt’s 2022 Members exhibit and has been featured in other art galleries, competitions and festivals across the region too numerous to name.
Debra holds an MFA in Painting from Edinboro University and a Doctorate in Higher and Post Secondary Education from Argosy University. She has been a member of Butler Community College’s art faculty since 1993, playing a significant role in online course design and implementation. In fact, the bulk of her career has been dedicated to arts instruction at various venues throughout the region including the Art Institute of Pittsburgh; Penn State University, Shenango and Beaver campuses; Youngstown State University, and the Merrick Art Gallery, among others.
About The Confluence
The Hoyt is proud to host rotating exhibitions featuring local artists at The Confluence, a coffee shop and gather space located in downtown New Castle.