Raven’s Wish Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of mixed media acrylic paintings by Matthew Ledger of Janesville. 

Ledger’s current works are abstracts which resemble “space-scapes,” nebulous clouds clinging together drawn in by dark matter. The pieces are not begun with this intention, only thought of as color, form, and emotion.

When he is painting, Ledger often slips into a state of “flow.” Similar to a runner’s endorphin high, Ledger finds this feeling beneficial for his mental health and for finding release from stress. Flow is described as completely focused motivation, a single-minded immersion in a task. For Matthew, the hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy that is infused into his paintings. 

Ledger was born into a family rich in artistic abilities. His mother Arlene Ledger, a well-known local painter, was the greatest influence on his work. Gerhard Richter, a New European Movement painter known for his exploration of the play between realism and abstraction is another strong influence on Ledger’s work.

An artist reception for Ledger will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday, June 26th.  The exhibition will hang through July 30th and the gallery is open from 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, and during the summer from 11 pm to 3 pm on Sunday.

For more than 35 years, Harold Rotzoll has been creating black-and-white etchings with subjects ranging from amusing animals to musings on the meaning of life.

A life-long Janesville resident, Rotzoll received a BA in art from UW-Whitewater with a concentration on printmaking. His work appears in the collections of universities, galleries, art centers, and private owners. Harold’s etchings have been shown in local, national, and international art exhibitions, and he has received numerous awards. He also judges both local and national art competitions, and creates commissioned work for public, private, and corporate venues.