(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)August 13, 2007

(Mahwah) – State of Grace:  Paintings By Douglas Auld will open in the Pascal Gallery on the campus of Ramapo College Wednesday, September 12 and continue through October 12.  A reception will be held September 19 from 5 – 7 p.m; an artist’s talk will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The ten subjects on exhibit in State of Grace are burn survivors treated at the Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.  The portraits not only reveal aspects of the subjects’ personalities, but also make a statement about their healing processes to have agreed to the portraits.  In completing each portrait, Auld said, “My instincts were shaped by meeting each volunteer, their family and friends, and taking inspiration from their remarkable self discovery.”

Auld’s inspiration for the portrait series began 30 years ago when he encountered a 13-year-old burn survivor whose facials burns were so severe that she lacked discernable features.  The encounter had a lasting impact.  In  2002, he presented the idea of painting portraits of burn survivors to the Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.  The Center agreed to participate in the project by enrolling the survivors.  The people who have volunteered have developed a strong sense of “self” in order to survive public alienation due to their appearance. Many lost family members in the fires they survived.

“My motivation to paint them,” said Auld,” is rooted in the desire to explore the parameters of beauty in our society.  These paintings document their visual facts while interpreting the less tangible aspects of inner beauty and personal character.”

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Pascal Gallery is located in the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts at Ramapo College.  Hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m.  For more information, call (201) 684-7147.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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