YOUNGSTOWN — The work of Marcela Hampel will be featured in an exhibition opening Monday at the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown.
Hampel was born in Argentina and lived there for 35 years, during which time she studied computational sciences at the Northeast National University in Corrientes and worked as a computer programmer. When Hampel and her family moved to Ohio in winter of 2012, she didn’t speak much English and didn’t know anyone.
According to the artist: “The combination of loneliness, cold and a new house that needed to be filled brought me to painting.”
Hampel, who teaches Spanish at Youngstown State University, enjoys the challenge of watercolor painting and how the artist must analyze light and shape before even making a stroke.
“In nature I found precious subjects to analyze: the disheveled beauty of petals of geraniums and irises, the neat rows of orchids and the unconventional patterns of tropical plants,” she said. “All of them are very inspiring and gave me the opportunity to use a wide range of colors.”
Her “Vibrant Color of Nature” exhibition will be on display through April 29 at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown. A reception is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 2.
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox