Equity Gallery presents “Rainbow Room by Melissa Staiger” at Wing Space

The broad arc of a rainbow represents a symbol of awe and good fortune around the world. The sun hits the water droplets, and a series of ordered colors appear laying side by side.

This natural phenomenon inspires my work. I embrace the hard edge and methodically assemble and arrange gestures, shapes, and lines. The layering textures and structures create collages and sculptural paintings with acrylic paint. Tape sets the parameters for the chromatic forms. I see an array of ways to create compositions.

Relationships, patterns, and shifts of movement shape my work. I stack thick layers of paint to produce marks that resemble a flexible spine and rib cage. These fresco-like layers hold sensitivity and harmony. The lines stretch across the surface represent the integration of both hemispheres of the human body in a spectral wave.

In my most recent series, the title “Organic Form” comes from the compositions having a defined core and use of a stencil brush to create texture. Each painting takes me a step further into unknown territories and new ideas. It's a process of exploring, which much like following a rainbow, doesn't offer an end, but a fruitful journey.