Alumna travels back to Richmond
It’s been a long journey for artist Dragana Crnjak. She’s driven from Youngston, Ohio with her husband and unborn child to set up for a show, which is part of a larger exhibition with fellow artists Leslie Van Millar and James Stroud. Eight months pregnant, Crnjak shows no signs of ill-temperament.
It’s been a long journey for artist Dragana Crnjak. She’s driven from Youngston, Ohio with her husband and unborn child to set up for a show, which is part of a larger exhibition with fellow artists Leslie Van Millar and James Stroud. Eight months pregnant, Crnjak shows no signs of ill-temperament. She calmly offers me a glass of water and begins talking about her latest summer works.
As a 2004 recipient of a Master of Fine Arts from VCU, Crnjak is no stranger to Richmond. She remembers the inclusion of her work in the first Page Bond Gallery show in 2006.
Crnjak received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Akron in Ohio after having moved there from Bosnia. Traditionally trained in art in her native country, Crnjak describes European art as serious. This was something she learned to let go of as she advanced her education, citing that she doesn’t always create art with a certain meaning in mind.
“I discover later what (a piece) means,” Crnjak said. “It’s an open ended discovery.”
A mix of large, medium and small canvasses display Crnjak’s art throughout the room, which demand a closer observation. From afar, they appear to be simple pieces, reminiscent of sketches, only they’re created with acrylics. This is something Crnjak has done on purpose, just as she layered textures on different shapes of the paintings.
A closer reveals what she’s talking about: Glossy, flat and raised textures catch my eye, giving each painting a different feel. She also points out the use of pastel colors is not because she’s expecting but because she’s normally drawn to that color scheme.
Crnjak says she’s ready to take a break for a little while but mentions she loves coming back to Richmond.
“I have a special connection to this gallery,” Crnjak said.
The “Crnjak, Millar and Stroud” exhibition will be on display at the Page Bond Gallery, 1625 W. Main St, until Sept. 26. The Page Bond Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Monday through Friday after Sept. 6.
