ABOUT RICK MIDLER

All humans seek to make sense of things.

The experience of seeing familiar objects in the clouds has had a magical influence on me for as long as I can recall. “Pareidolia” is the term given to our tendency to seek meaningful images in random patterns. This strange ability feeds the human compulsion to look for purpose within chaos. These collages are my way of reminding myself of moments that demanded nothing but acceptance. Cloudscapes, camouflaged within juxtaposed layers of decorative papers and patterns, represent the overlapping of our experiences and ideas. By practicing mindfulness, we can all hold the awareness of a moment without the need to make sense of it. Yet, we drift like clouds - and eventually return to vapor. 

(from Rick Midler: Vapor on Paper)

ABOUT RICK

Rick Midler creates a unique aesthetic in his collage work by combining an eye for animation, attraction to evocative, multi-cultural patterns and a focused scissor technique inspired by Matisse and Japanese bonsai masters. Rooted in his meditation practice and sketchbook journaling, the work echoes Tibetan Buddhist Thangkas as well as Hieronymus Bosch.

Born in Northern New Jersey and currently living in Brooklyn, NY, Rick first exhibited his work in animation and film editing companies during his career as an Emmy Award Winning creative director for BBDO, NY. Rick’s exhibition credits include HABITAT CONTEMPORARY (Kansas City, MO), MIGHTY TANAKA (DUMBO), ART PRIZE (Grand Rapids) and FOCUS PARIS at the Carrousel du Louvre. He has done live art for audiences at THE VANDERBILT REPUBLIC in New York City and created site-specific installations including “No Barrier to the Sky” for Miriam’s (Brooklyn) and a mural for Little River, Miami.

 “Rick’s work bypasses the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

- Joel Peissig, Director