The Artist
Rita O'Hara
Carl Jung said that art can be an expression of archetypes and, as such, is both transformative and healing. Such universal and eternal images that frequently appear in my paintings are the mandala (the self), the wise old woman, the wise old man, eternal youth, the butterfly (the soul), fish (transition), an individual walking down a path (life's journey), stars (hope), birds (the soul), swans (the supernatural).
The act of painting allows me to explore my unconscious. As in the experience of a dream or fantasy, I may not understand the significance of the image. Within the boundaries of my visual language, I am free to play with and reorder the archetypes into new imagery, and through this process their meaning is often revealed.
My work as a rehabilitation counselor, a struggle with rheumatoid arthritis, an Irish-Catholic background, and an interest in the spiritual influence the form and content of the paintings and drawings.
My artwork consists of oil paintings, gouache paintings, and colored pencil drawings. All Paintings have been titled using lines from Emily Dickinson's poetry.
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For the past fifteen years Rita O'Hara's work has appeared in numerous group and
juried shows. She has also had eight solo shows at various galleries, including
the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago, Fine Arts Building Gallery, ARC Gallery and
Columbia College Art Gallery. Her work has been featured in articles and
photographs in the Midwest Gallery Guide, the Chicago Tribune, CAC News, Chicago
Quarterly Review and the Pioneer Press. EDUCATION B.A. Ursuline College, Cleveland, Ohio M.S. Rehabilitation Psychology, Illinois Institute of
Technology, Chicago, Illinois Studied art under Robert Guinan - Evanston Art Center and
Guinan's Studio at the Noyes Cultural Art Center, Evanston, Illinois ART RELATED JOB EXPERIENCE Art teacher, The Studios (SRO-Single
Room Occupancy for formerly homeless people), Chicago, Illinois, 1998 to
present. Art teacher to developmentally disabled
adults, Resources for Living, Evanston, Illinois, 2001 to present. Art therapy groups for homeless women,
Chicago Christian Industrial League, Chicago, Illinois, 1996-1999. SOLO EXHIBITIONS SHADOW VISIONS, Cliff Dwellers, Chicago,
Illinois. 2002. SHADOW VISIONS, Jung Institute of
Chicago, Evanston, Illinois, 2002. RITA O'HARA: RECENT PAINTINGS AND
DRAWINGS, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2000. RITA O'HARA: RECENT WORKS, Jinx,
Evanston, Illinois, 2000. SHADOW VISIONS, Fine Arts Building
Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 1998. DREAMS AND THE UNCONSCIOUS, ARC,
Chicago, Illinois, 1995. DREAMS AND THE UNCONSCIOUS, Diversity
Fine Arts Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 1993. DREAMS AND THE UNCONSCIOUS, Columbia,
College, Chicago, Illinois, 1992.
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