"Meditative Scapes"

April 5th - May 28th, 2021

"Meditative Scapes" - Nick & Nicole Fischer

This series of paintings was created within the last few months. We’ve taken this time as an opportunity to embrace a slower pace of life and find solace in stillness. These pieces are meant to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony and to help with stress reduction.

Countless studies have been conducted proving hospital rooms with windows or painted scenes from nature help to lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate and promote faster healing. At first glance, these images are simply colorful and aesthetically pleasing. But spending some time with each one rewards the viewer with a mini meditation. With time, eyes start to meander through the repeating shapes, colors and value gradations. The mandala, or the geometric pattern, is transparent enough to fuse with the landscape itself. The curved lines and color values are meant to undulate in a way that mimics breath and to promote movement throughout the landscape.

The idea is to connect with a flow state and not become stagnant with worry. A quote for you to consider by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Each person’s life is like a mandala - a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear and think forms the mandala of our life.” Nick and Nicole Fischer are married artists based in Aberdeen, SD. They both have B.A. degrees with an emphasis on painting from Northern State University.

Nick and Nicole have fully established themselves as distinct artists. They each have their own separate painting styles. They have each won prestigious awards for their works and have been accepted into regional and traveling exhibitions. Over the last 20 years, the two of them have created a successful creative business serving the midwestern region.

While Nick and Nicole explore different ideas and utilize distinct working methods as individual artists, they also form a strong artistic entity as a duo. The couple have maintained a community presence through participating in live painting for fundraisers and social events and through teaching workshops for students and cultural community events.

The Fischer’s are accomplished muralists and have stabilized their career creating art pieces for individuals, businesses, and hospitals throughout the Midwest. Their work in the medical field has shifted their perspective towards creating work that appeals to a general audience while providing a positive and healing atmosphere. They have learned to follow the rule “You gain what you give,” and attribute their success through collaboration and partnership.

Sr. Weinreis’s passion and love of art and engaging with people of all ages, resulted in the Mini Gallery, which was an open gallery, from 1972-1992, when the name was changed to the Wein Gallery. Artists from throughout Aberdeen, South Dakota, and the upper Midwest exhibited beautiful art work, pottery, handmade items and photographs.  Her contribution to the arts was recognized in 1990 when the Aberdeen Arts Council awarded her with the Friends of the Arts Award.