"Mediastorm"
11X14
©Haley Rothstein
Haley Rothstein, a multi-disciplined artist from
southwestern Minnesota, has her artwork featured during the month of August at
the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA. A
closing reception will be held for her from 5:30 – 7:00pm on Friday, August 28th. She will be teaching a two-hour class on
Kusudama (origami flowers) the next morning (Saturday, August 29th)
from 10:00am – 12:00 noon.
Haley Rothstein, who lives in Lakefield (MN) but works in
Spirit Lake (IA), was born in South Carolina.
An Air Force brat, she moved with her family across the country more
than once. She was introduced to Adobe
Photoshop in 2003, and much of what she learned was self-taught. In 2006, she graduated with her Associate's
degree from Minnesota West Community & Technical College, and in 2009
graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor's degree in Art
Photography. In addition to her
photography related art, Rothstein also draws and paints.
"While my degree is in photography, and the majority of my
expertise is in Adobe Photoshop, my first artistic love has always been drawing
cartoons and comics. When growing up, I
would create new characters, give them personalities and stories, and draw them
every single day," said Rothstein. "In
college I set aside my cartoons to learn more technical skills and focus on the
more 'serious' art of photography."
"Dash"
8X10
©Haley Rothstein
After college, she picked up her brushes and began painting
her "joyful figure" monsters. The
figures became more and more stylized, with brighter colors and happy
grins. Around 2012, Rothstein started painting
a series of abstracted trees, sometimes with birds or people. "Because I come from a military family and we
moved across the country a couple times, my love for trees stems from a craving
for a history or 'roots' someplace."
"Orange Tree"
12X24
©Haley Rothstein
Featured at the Witter this month are select pieces of
Rothstein's work from the last 5 years in the mediums of acrylic paintings,
drawings, and digital paintings.
As a side hobby, Rothstein makes and sells Kusudama
flowers. She made nearly 400 of the
flowers for a wedding in 2013, and since has taught a number of one-day classes
on how to make the adorable folded paper flowers. The class will run from 10:00am – 12:00 noon
on Saturday, August 29th.
Cost per participant is only $20.00, and all supplies will be
provided. If you would like to register
for the class, please call the Witter Gallery at (712) 732-3400.
The Witter Gallery, located at 609 Cayuga St. in Storm Lake,
IA, is open to the public from 1:00 – 5:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays; 1:00 – 6:00pm on Thursdays; and
10:00am – 2:00pm on Saturdays. The
closing reception for Haley Rothstein will be held from 5:30 – 7:00pm on
Friday, August 28th.
Rothstein will be on hand at the gallery that evening to meet and greet
visitors and answer questions about her work.
