New Member Spotlight March: Rodney Mayer 

Lives in: North Potomac, Maryland … Having lived in the same home for many years, I actually lived in North Potomac before there was a North Potomac.

Website: 

https://www.rodmayerart.com

Media and subjects: I started with traditional oil on canvas, particularly landscapes as subject matter, due to my educational background in geography and an interest in hiking and the outdoors. Recently I began to work in the medium of wine on canvas …. Yes, wine…. Not quite sure how I got on to the idea, but there is at least one Italian artist working in that medium. More recently I began creating some quirky or offbeat 3-D works, including pasta sculptures. Another 3-D work features natural tree remnants, and I am starting work on other “sculptures” consisting of recycled paper and plastics. 

Why you joined MAA: Having exhibited with the Maryland Federation of Arts at the state level, and the City of Gaithersburg at the local level, I was looking to become involved with an arts organization in between these two levels.

Something fun about you: I grew up in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania … home of the groundhog, which is featured on the news every February when they celebrate Groundhog Day. 

Artist Biography:  At the risk of revealing my age, my interest in art dates back to grade school years when I created pencil on paper drawings of the Beatles performing.  Later, in 7th grade art class in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania city schools, my art teacher admired a painting of mine titled "City of Bridges".  Pittsburgh, with its three rivers, is known as the city of bridges.  

After college-followed by a 30 year career with the federal government, I decided to return to my artistic roots.  I joined the Maryland Federation of Art in 2019 and have had my artwork selected for six different shows over the 2019-2020.  One of those shows was at Waverly Gallery in Bethesda where I was presented an "Honorable Mention" award for my pasta sculpture titled "Elbow Room".  This work was actually cited in a gallery review of the show in the Washington Post newspaper.  

Below are a few of my works.  "Elbow Room" is the last image presented below. I hope you enjoy them.