On view at the Princeton Public Library alongside Robert Vanderbei’s astrophotography is a complementary exhibit, “Luminous Matter,” by Princeton-based artist Fran Eber.
In an artist’s statement on the Arts Council website, she writes: “I achieve this otherworldly look in my artwork by combining pigments, fluids, and additives to produce a physical reaction. Layering different densities of paint leads to the formation of cellular structures that echo natural processes. Some of my results are comparable to phenomena that can be observed in astronomy, such as the Rayleigh-Taylor instability seen in the Crab Nebula.
“To create my paintings, I myself mimic the forces of nature by using multiple types of energy. I use the kinetic movement of my hands and body, generating the power needed to facilitate a chemical reaction in the paint and additives. This chemical reaction itself shapes the structure and design of my work, taking on a life of its own. Finally, I apply heat and fire to my paintings — additional forms of energy — to further induce movement and dynamic interest.
“I experiment to discover new ways to generate surprising and exciting results. With this end in mind, my work uses multiple mixed media approaches. Some of the raw materials that I use include acrylic paint, alcohol inks, encaustic paint, pigments, and epoxy resin.”
Eber, who holds a BFA in visual arts from the Mason Gross School at Rutgers, has works in collections throughout the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
