Artist statement
RJ Haas’ interest in art started in 1963 where he studied Renaissance Art and church art with John Squillace of Woodbury, New Jersey. In addition, he studied with Dr. Ross Beitzel in preparation for college.
During RJ’s college years he studied art history at Pfeiffer College, North Carolina with James Haymaker, with an emphasis on Impressionist artists.
From 1972 to 1980, RJ concentrated on his field study artwork, producing scenic impressionist paintings.
Currently, RJ Haas is an active member of various art organizations: Home Art Gallery in Mount Holly, Burlington County Art Guild (Past Vice President and Past President); Philadelphia Sketch Club (co-chaired the Works on Paper Show for 2006, 2007, 2008); Main Line Art Center (accepted in the Betsy Meyer Memorial Art Exhibit 2006); Center for the Arts (where he is an instructor of acrylic painting); Woodmere Art Organization (where his work was accepted for the 63rd Annual Juried Show), Gloucester County Art League and Willingboro Art Alliance.
When asked about the de l’inconnue series, the message he tries to convey through his paintings is, “As urban overtakes rural areas, there is a loss of sense of self and social awareness.”
This show consists of adventurous social commentary on the tidal wave of urban flooding into the farmlands of South Jersey. I am a rural person but, as an Artist who needs and wants city life to promote my art, there arises hidden personal conflicts into this body of work. These works are not surreal in nature, rather they are separate realities, formulated to show and illustrate my opinions, thoughts, and questions on the impact of this tidal wave and the gridlock that is to follow.
Each painting has common elements that are contained in the de l’inconnue series. These elements are:
a. The view of the encroaching city
b. The pigeons, that are harbingers of city life, with all the congestion
c. The title of each piece is the viewer’s beginning point into that world
We hope you enjoy this collection.
Email: rjhaas@verizon.net
Website: http://rjhaas.com
