Our Current Exhibit

May 3-28
The War Within: My Year of Chemo, Love and Art
Solo exhibit by Debbie Hegedus

By Melissa Marshall

Artist reception: Friday, May 6, 6-8 p.m.

Newark-based artist Debbie Hegedus gently touches one of the pieces to be exhibited at her upcoming installation, “The War Within: My Year of Chemo, Love and Art.” Half-finished canvases are scattered in her studio, which is comfortably situated in the second floor of her brightly decorated home. Hegedus explains that, while visitors to her new show will immediately read intimate meaning into her work, her pieces still retain the global and political relevance of her earlier shows.

Diagnosed with cancer a year ago, Hegedus decided to turn her adversity into an opportunity, applying for a solo show at the Newark Arts Alliance. The exhibit reflects the tension between the international issues Hegedus follows closely and her own personal battles.

Opening day is Tuesday, May 3, with an artist’s reception on Friday, May 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“My cancer has influenced my art in a way,” she admits. “It’s almost as if I’ve been given a gift: I’ve been given the time to work on my art. Although my work hasn’t changed all that much—I’ve always dealt with the same sort of issues in my art—perhaps my illness has made me think more of mortality. I need to have better use of my time.”

And she has taken her words to heart, transforming her time into more than 15 original pieces, challenging herself both creatively and constructively by exploring different mediums including sculpture, collage, fabric, acrylic, and mixed media.

“This show will be more introspective than my previous work—how could it not?” explains Hegedus. However, she was quick to add that a global consciousness remains her priority. “When you look at what’s going on in the world—the revolutions in the Middle East, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—I, myself, feel very insignificant.”

After her diagnosis, Hegedus took a leave of absence from the Newark Center for Creative Learning, where she has taught art for more than 20 years. “In a way, I feel as though my work thrived when I was teaching. It’s very exciting to see the kids’ enthusiasm,” she says.

Determined to see the positive, however, Hegedus gracefully switched tracks, instead focusing on the freedom that her new schedule has allowed her. Her first solo show in close to 10 years, “The War Within” explores new territory, and reveals Hegedus’ passion for textiles and sewing.

“I love playing with different fabrics and textures and defying traditional two-dimensional pieces,” she explains in discussing her mixed-media selections. “I like to create work that can hang flat on the wall, but also break those boundaries.”

Hegedus is also not afraid to cross borders or push boundaries by touching on hot-button issues. Unapologetically political, much of her work gives voice to global warming concerns, environmental issues and anti-war messages. Unerringly complex, however, her work also has a softness and femininity that compliments its strength—her palettes of lush greens and malleable lines speak to both her and husband’s love of nature.

“I do want people to take away something,” she explains. “Everyone is going to take away what they want, but I would like to sneak in something about global warming and the environment. I would like people to think about those things.”

The artist earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Delaware. Before taking a position at the Newark Center for Creative Learning, she taught adult art education and served as Artist in Residence in New York State and Delaware.

Her show runs through May 28.