To Stretch the Night (2001)
Elena Popova and Luben Boykov were born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and both graduated with an MFA degree from the National Academy of Fine Arts. They moved to Canada in 1990, and since that time they have been living and working in Newfoundland.
Elena has worked almost exclusively in monotypes since 1997. Her works are a vibrant, painterly interpretation of the technique of monoprinting. She paints with oil on plexiglass and prints on Fabriano paper. Elena’s imagery is emotionally explosive, rich and a complex momentary registration of the spiritual in a state of constant flux.
Luben works primarily in bronze. Many of his sculptures utilize grasses as a connective tissue in a context of material transformation. They are made of grass blades bound with wax and cast directly in bronze, reflecting the themes of love, intimate dialogue, and unity. Luben’s work varies in size from large-scale outdoor sculptures to small interior pieces.
Tara Bryan was born in Texas and studied music and art in university. She has an MFA in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she also learned letterpress printing and bookbinding. From 1987 to 1992 she traded work for courses at the Center for book Arts in New York City. Tara has lived in Newfoundland since 1992. She is inspired by the process of collaboration and the unexpected outcome of working closely with other artists.