Barn Girl Art was created in 2002 by Suzanne N. Horwich, a native of Omaha, in memory of artist, friend and mentor, David Barker. It is dedicated to the encouragement and support of artists in the realization of their potential.
‘Without the help and encouragement from David, I would not be the artist I am today. I feel it is important to pass this message of enthusiasm on to other artists,’ Horwich said.

Horwich left Omaha in 1990 and traveled and lived around the world searching for aesthetic variations from place to place as an inspiration for her paintings. ‘For me the expressive method of painting is equally as important as the painting itself,’ she explained. ‘I try to convey spiritual and emotional truths in the most direct way using form and color.’

Her work can be found in private collections around the world and is also on display in public venues in Scotland. She now lives and works as an artist in Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, Darren.

This will be Horwich’s third show in Omaha. Joining her is local artist Kim Goldberg. Goldberg’s artwork focuses on the transformation of historical design elements from diverse cultures throughout history into contemporary paintings that incorporate specialty paper and other medium. The intention of her work is to tie historical elements to present time, melding the past with the future.

Goldberg has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute and has shown work at Jackson Artworks, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and several public locations in San Francisco.

For more information about Barn Girl Art, visit www.barngirlart.com.

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It’s a double play for Omaha native’s art Painter Suzanne N. Horwich has come a long way to put her creativity on display in two different ways this weekend.

The Omaha native has traveled 4,000 miles from her Glasgow, Scotland, home to take part in tonight’s spring Slide Jam at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.

Then Sunday, she’ll kick off a joint exhibit of her work and that of Kim Goldberg at the Jewish Community Center, 333. S. 132nd St.

During the Slide Jam, set to begin at 7 p.m., Horwich and Goldberg will join 11 other artists to discuss current art projects. At the free event, participants get five minutes to explain their endeavors before another artist takes over. It’s a way for the public to see what some of the hottest, freshest and most cutting-edge painters and sculptors are creating.

Others participating in the jam include James Bockelman, Jim Butkus, Gary Day, Adam Fogarty, Jim Hendrickson, Becky Hermann, Duncan Joyner, Marlene Mueller, Bonnie O’Connell, Kristin Pluhacek and Kenny Walton.

On Sunday, Horwich and Goldberg will open an exhibit of their paintings at the Jewish Community Center with a reception from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The pieces remain on display through March 30. Horwich, whose colorful works are in private collections around the globe, left Omaha in 1990 to seek out inspiration around the world for her paintings, finally settling in Scotland. But she’s had a recent local impact, starting the Barn Girl Art organization in 2002 to honor fellow artist David Barker. Through holding Barn Girl Art shows – this weekend’s will be the organization’s third – Horwich hopes to encourage and support other local artists. A portion of all profits benefits the Barker Art Residency Project.

Goldberg’s paintings meld past and present by tying historical elements to modern themes.

For details on either artist and this weekend’s events, visit www.barngirlart.com.

- Staff writer Dane Stickney

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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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