These paintings are of landscapes I have created out of memory and imagination. I often think about the importance of space, of being attuned to the place one is in. Our environment affects not only thoughts and feelings, but the possibilities we see for ourselves as well. For me, orienting myself to the space I am in is a part of the way I think about the world, seeing openings both literal and metaphorical. This work is an exploration of and examination of those places I have longed for, visited or imagined. For many years the work focused on my interest in open spaces and the solid yet ethereal world of water, ice, and light that is the Arctic and Antarctic. More recent work has focused on trees as vertical elements crossing the depicted space. These vertical forms began with a family loss and my perception of grief as a barrier. A difficult medical challenge led to the creation of more vertical elements as barriers to forward progression and to images of the sky as a locus of conflict and resolution. For me, painting is a way to understand and process these events and others. I invite the viewer to become immersed in each image and to explore the possibilities of that particular space. Inspiration for this work comes from phrases or descriptions in literature, reflections on world affairs or experiences in my own life. All are visual expressions of a feeling, a concept, a place or a journey that resonates with me personally. They begin with a small drawing and notes in a sketchbook and then evolve and develop more fully on the canvas. Peg Orcutt taught Drawing at the Sage College of Albany, Albany, NY for many years and exhibited widely in that area. She was a member of and exhibited at Artemisia Gallery in Chicago before moving to Madison. She holds a BA in Art and Art History from Wellesley College and an MFA in Painting from the University of Illinois at Chicago.