(Press Release)
The ideas reflected in Groya’s paintings express a conversation about struggle for equal rights in our culture, in our time. The origin of this struggle can be traced to The Civil War in our country, which ended 150 years ago. The outcome of that war preserved the union. But did little to bring the nation together.
And so the struggle continues.
Struggle is disconcerting and educational at the same time. It provokes concern, an exchange of ideas, action, rebellion. It is a constant in our lives. And continues to shape our interior and exterior landscapes.
Groya’s paintings in the abstract are an ongoing exploration of those landscapes, interior and exterior. The marks made on multiple surfaces of plexiglass, represent the process of reflection, research, action and more reflection. The result is a dialogue of paint, mixed materials, found objects and ideas. They are an invitation to reflect and consider that landscape.
BIO
Cynthia Groya was born in Indiana and studied painting and printmaking at SACI in Florence, Italy. She received a BFA from Drake University, and studied printmaking at Parsons, The New School. Groya recently completed a residency at Mass MoCA Assets for Artists Program in North Adams, MA.
Groya founded an advertising and graphic design studio in Kansas City, MO, and served as Education and Art Director for the KC Advertising Club. In St. Louis, Groya worked as the Creative Director for Langly Smith Advertising, then became an Arts Educator for the St. Louis Art Museum. Groya directed “Art for Our Time: A Multicultural Perspective,” a symposium and panel discussion of St. Louis Art and Education leaders.
In PA, Groya taught art at Bucks County Community College and Newtown Friends School before founding“CAPS! (Cultural Arts in Progress!) an interdisciplinary art school in Yardley. CAPS! curriculum of cultural diversity/art instruction/art history was presented to over 5000 students from 1996-2006. Since 2006, Groya has volunteered as an art teacher and curator for ArtSpace (HomeFront), served as Gallery Director for the Silva Gallery of Art in Pennington, NJ, volunteered as a mentor for TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen) collaborating with TASK clients to create “The Red,” a national award winning video addressing hunger, and co-chaired the Princeton University Art Museum Gala.
Groya has participated in more than 50 group and 3 solo exhibitions. She lives in Princeton, NJ.
For more information visit www.cynthiagroya.com
