The Reader, Published March 9th, 2006

The artists in the Jewish Community Center’s Barn Girl Art exhibit have two different approaches in starting their projects, but the love of the process connects them.

Omaha native Suzanne Horwich and local artist Kim Goldberg joined forces to show about 20 works of bright and textured modern art. Although they are both painters, the two women vary greatly in their approach to the genre.

Goldberg’s work focuses on motifs, layers, patterns and color harmony, all of which she researches beforehand. Not only does she paint her ideas, she cuts repeating shapes out of paper and accents certain designs with beads. “The idea of layering really came to me while I was on an archeological dig in Israel about 10 years ago,” Goldberg said. “I was fascinated with the idea of things being hidden, and having to dig to find them.”

A perfect example of Goldberg’s work is a striking, orange-hued piece titled “Etruscan Model.” The center is a pattern outlined in white, reminiscent of what one might see carved into the tile of a Roman bath. On both sides are striped, 12-point stars cut from paper and fastened onto the orange background. They breach the borders of the canvas, making it completely open and limitless. The color and various elements create an overall feeling of warmth and freedom. Throughout Goldberg’s pieces, the colors are strong, but coordinated and relevant — making even the bright oranges seem almost muted.

Horwich begins with her emotions and paints from there. The difference in approach can be seen in the bright, vibrant colors she uses. She says her focus is on the act of painting rather than the end result.

“For me, it’s all about the emotion,” Horwich said. “I don’t know what happens, but something takes over. I get a vision. It’s completely emotional, and whatever is in my mind just explodes onto the canvas.”

This is particularly evident in “Daydreams in my Studio,” an energetic, wild mess of rectangles. Some of the rectangles are solid, some have patterns; very few are the same color. But they all have a small white line connecting them, just like the disjointed but somehow segued daydreams of a girl at work.

One vision not seen on any of the canvases is the message behind the show. Horwich is the founder of Barn Girl Art, a one-woman mission to inspire and promote other artists. She said childhood friend and Hot Shops artist David Baker taught Horwich everything she knows about painting. He gave Horwich the gift of encouragement, and she feels the need to pass his gift along in the form of Barn Girl Art.

Encouragement, however, can sometimes show itself in the form of pressure. Horwich said one of the most important things she does for other artists is set a date for a show. Goldberg said this is her first show since 1998, and that without Horwich it might never have happened.

“I guess I just needed the goal of a show,” she said. “I needed something to focus on, and I didn’t have that when I didn’t have a deadline.”

Horwich said Barn Girl Art’s first criteria for selecting the featured artist is love for the work.

“I’m looking for artists who want it,” she said. “The art is secondary. The passion comes first.”

Barn Girl Art is on display through March at the Jewish Community Center, 333 S. 132nd. For more information visit barngirlart.com or call 334.8200.

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