River Arts is pleased to announce abstract artist, Cathy Bennigson’s upcoming solo show “Color and Motion” in the River Room August 24 through September 13. Bennigson’s vibrant abstract paintings are sure to captivate. A public reception will coincide with River Arts “Abstract” show Saturday, Sept. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Bennigson began her art studies at the School of Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) in Boston. After studying there for five years, Bennigson was invited to join the board of directors and served as chair of the board.

Bennigson says of her work, “From the beginning I was intrigued with edges. Edges are where, with stroke of a brush, things touch and come together…shapes, objects, lines, spaces, colors, energies and of course, relationships. These intersections are where worlds of emotion, relationship and life meet. My quest became to explore the nature of those intersections and transitions. Some edges were strong impermeable barriers allowing nothing to pass through. Others were ill defined and fragile, almost invisible, barriers to nothing.

“Throughout the years, edges have evolved into wider swaths and patches of color, becoming strokes of a brush that carry the energy of life, the exuberance of living. My hope is to have my paintings be loose, open and free, relaxed and joyful using a broad spectrum of life’s palette. My paintings, like all of us, continue to evolve. And like life, it is not clear to me exactly where they are heading. But I continue to follow the threads, the mystery of my edges and their evolution.”

River Arts is located at 36 Elm St. in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the website at riverartsme.org or call 207-563-6868 for more information.