{"id":105735,"date":"2026-09-04T16:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T23:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=105735"},"modified":"2026-09-09T16:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:37:18","slug":"the-optical-pleasures-of-nancy-steele-makascis-rebirth-healing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/the-optical-pleasures-of-nancy-steele-makascis-rebirth-healing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Optical Pleasures of Nancy Steele-Makasci’s Rebirth & Healing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rebirth & Healing<\/em>, an exhibition of watercolors and woodcut prints by Nancy Steele-Makasci<\/a>, on display at the Sweet Branch Library through October 3, is visually enticing for gallerygoers.<\/p>\n

In the show, the artist offers a series of vertical stripe paintings\u2014twelve in total\u2014whose bands of variable widths and iridescent colors, are carefully considered for greatest ocular impact. Also, she shares nine mokuhanga color woodcut prints and collages on paper, each a flashy, tight collection of loosely printed triangles, squares, trapezoids, and more. Think patchwork quilt design \u00e0 la Paul Klee\u2014loose patterns are enhanced by the strokes of a Japanese-style hake brush. “Vibrant” is one such example of an expressive mokuhanga print.<\/p>\n

In the exhibit\u2019s artist statement, Steele-Makasci acknowledges that she studied traditional Japanese color woodblock printing in Japan. \u201cI was fascinated with the natural and innate qualities of watercolor.\u201d Since her time in Japan in 2024, she has made mokuhanga prints and watercolor stripe paintings.<\/p>\n

While there are many artists who employ the stripe motif\u2013considered an enduring device of modern and contemporary art\u2013Steele-Makasci\u2019s pulsating yet delicate colors beat out a contagious rhythm, creating a beguiling dance, one that any inquisitive eye would love to join.<\/p>\n