Patrica Zeyher

My name is Trica Anne Zeyher. My signature is TAZ. I am an artist and specifically a painter. I always loved gaining the experience of seeing life as though it has never been looked at before and seeing it for the exact being of itself and also seeing it for its best aspects.

I officially fell in love with art, when I found out that it was something that was just happening. I was using my sight to see the good in the world during a time that I could not express myself. I didn’t go out and use my confusion in a negative way. I found a way to make the best out of how I was given life.

The childhood challenge that changed my view of life occurred at my family dinner table. I was sitting at the dinner table and although I knew my father was sitting on the other side of the table, and his head was tilted low and he was sitting in a wheel chair with an oxygen tank, I would be alright. He could not even speak; it was past the point that most people give up. He stayed strong until the smile he held somehow on his deathbed.

This was the start of my understanding that there is more to express than can be said. I was eleven. I held secrets of pain that I thought no one could understand. But people do not have to understand. They need only know, and by knowing, you become that much closer to everyone around you. Knowing what and how a person’s mind is interpreting from their world, is like walking in their shoes, but instead seeing through their eyes for a movement of time in their life.

The first thesis I had done was in high school, my senior year. I had the help of Todd Poteet from the Mill Street Loft. My thesis was “Experiencing the Death of my Father: Past, Present, and Future.” I created a series of 12 pieces within 12 weeks. One of the pieces is now in the “Osofsky Art Collection,” due to winning their Senior Art Competition at the Stissing Mountain School.

My current work is based on being in the moment. I had previously based my thesis for painting three class at SUNY Potsdam on the images of reflection and shadows with out having an actual object in the piece.

After Painting three at SUNY Potsdam outside of school, I have created a series that is also based on this thesis of the abstraction of reflection and shadows, but is also based on the idea that there is more than one way to view art. I created this idea out of the use of black light paint within the image as well as mixed media. When viewing the art within daylight it is entirely different than when seen under a black light.

I am looking to take the knowledge I have learned from that thesis and expand it to that of being able to take what is there both through reflections and shadows and be able to cover half of the image over to create a very understandable image of a known object. This would mean that not only is it able to be two images, but also interactive with the audience. They would need to open the piece up by themselves to see the other image. This is my third thesis in my life.

I have accomplished this third thesis in my painting four class at SUNY Potsdam. I was able to create a double sided image that was 4' X 4' and turn it into a sort of triptych that was more of a z formation. There is one layer that closes over half of the piece on either side. The images that are shown when the entire piece is closed is visually connected through patterns and shapes which were inspired by images such as shadows and light reflections to even a flower and the shape of a hula hoop. The medium of the piece is masonite with a wooden frame. This frame and the hinges that hold it together along with the z formation are what helps the piece to stand on its own. A center piece, that from any direction that it is viewed will show a different image that will combine to the other area that is shown from a different section. The process I took over the process of the layers was a very in the now experience. I based each of the layers not only on how to connect to the medium of the previous layer, but I took into account what ever emotion or experience I was having during that day. I feel that the entirety of the piece is based on "Synchronized Peace Within Chaos."
I chose to use mixed media for the piece. I used everything from black light paint, oil paint, acrylic paint, sharpie marker, liquin, turpentine, and ink.
I would like to further influence this piece by incorporating more light not only black lights, but also with mirrors included in its presentation of itself.

The next idea that I have for a thesis, includes manipulation of light and shadow, not only seeing the images and showing the world my idea, but showing them the essence of the what is behind the thought itself. For this piece I would like to include, so far, mirrors, glass, crystals, all of different colors and size. Along with the idea that time or movement is also seen within the different views that are possible, I would like to incorporate different types of lighting such as the type of bulb, the sun, and where the lighting is positioned.

Education:
Seymour Smith Elementary in Pine Plains NY
Indian Mountain School in Lakeville CT.
Mill Street Loft in Poughkeepsie NY.
Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)
Stissing Mountain Middle/ High School Pine Plains NY
Chinese Exchange Program through Sitting Mountain
Rhinebeck Dance center
People to People Student Ambassador
New Hampshire Institute of Art
SUNY Dutchess
SUNY Potsdam (Current School of Education for a Studio art Major and Minor in Art Therapy)

Work experience:
Dashing Star Farm
Standfordville Recreation (lifeguard and WSI)
Mashomack Polo Club (Lifeguard)
Hotchkiss School in Lakeville CT. (Lifeguard)
Shepard’s Park Lake George (Lifeguard and WSI)
MapleBrook School in Amenia NY (Lifeguard)
SUNY Potsdam Center for Lifelong Education and Recreation: Lifeguard and WSI
SUNY Potsdam Computer and Technology Services

Internship and volunteer work:
Norman Rockwell Museum: Stephanie Plunkett (email: [email protected])
Sunday School Assistant St. Bernard’s Church in Sharon CT.
People to People Student Ambassador (Nature Clean up in Germany)

Art Exhibitions:
Teen Vision at Vassar College in 2011
The Summer Intensive at Mill Street Loft.
Dutchess County Fair Art Competitions
Stissing Mountain Senior Art Exhibition.
MapleBrook School Outside Art Exhibition
Christiana Will’s Museum Studies project: Black Light Series
SUNY Potsdam Art Attack

Online Art sites:
http://tricazeyher.blogspot.com/
http://taz-emotions-of-abstraction.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/240888609305650/?ref=ts&fref=ts