February 19 - March 21, 2009

Opening Reception Thursday, February 19th, 6-8 pm

Catherine Person Gallery is proud to announce a solo exhibition by Seattle

painter Lynne Saad titled ‘Unexpected Opportunity’.

The work is autobiographical and comprised of nineteen imaginary portraits of women

who each have a story to tell. Though the work serves as a personal memoir to the

artist, the iconic imagery is universal in its message.

Unexpected Opportunity clearly reflects the artists' positive outlook on life despite

the fact that she's approaching her third year of living with stage-4 cancer.  With this

work Lynne has visually declared her glass half-full and deals with end-of-life issues

from a position of strength and gratitude and grace.

Back in the summer of 2006 when Lynne was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive

form of cancer, doctors advised her to use her remaining time to get her affairs in order.

Lynne’s discipline  as a painter has pulled her through the numerous mental and

challenges of declining health. And though she’s been in weekly chemotherapy since

being diagnosed, she’s painted more than 40 paintings, with half of them shown in her

virtually sold-out show in 2008 and the rest painted in the past year.

The new work speaks volumes about her situation. In 'Bound' the figure is wrapped 

from shoulder to toe in a huge white ribbon tied with a bow, beautiful but unable to move.

In 'We Don't Know' a woman is blind-folded yet has a knowing Mona Lisa smile and in

‘Saying Goodbye is a Serious Matter’, a swarm of butterflies engulfs the figure.

The paintings have dreamy symbolic imagery and reflect the artist's resolve to simply

trust - and let go.

Lynne taught art to high school students in the Seattle and North Shore school districts

for thirty years and retired in 2002 to paint full time. She was beloved by generations of

students and was known for her talent, wit and creative outlook on life. Lynne has a

Masters degree in Art Education from the University of Washington and was voted

Washington States’ high school art teacher of the year by her peers. She will attend

the Opening Reception. Additional images for the show can be viewed in Lynne's portfolio

in Artists.

Installation View                                                                                          photo Jenny Jenkins

                                                                                                                   photo: Jenny Jenkins

                                                                                                                    photo: Jenny Jenkins

                                                                                       photo: Ti Locke

Dealer Catherine Person and Lynne Saad in party hats at the Opening Feb 19th.

Lynne made dozens of hats for friends to wear at the event.

Each of the paintings are acrylic, gesso, thread, paper, 18.5"x14.5", Lynne Saad, 2008-09.

Custom framed with off-white linen and black wood moulding with silver leaf trim, $1,500.

Letting Go, 2009 Sold

The Nurse with Red Hair, 2009 Sold

Saying Goodbye is a Serious Matter, 2008 Sold

Grief, 2008 - Sold

A Garden Growing Inside, 2008 Sold

Choker of Pearls, 2008 Sold

Fairy Pixie Angel, 2008 Sold

Unexpected Opportunity, 2009 Sold

Camp, 2009 - Sold

photo credit: Linda Young