Marsha Heller

Born in Cleveland in 1939 into a family of artists-mother, aunts, uncles, sister and brother- I naturally decided to become musician! I studied at Oberlin, Salzburg Mozarteum, and in New York with Harold Gomberg. As my career as an oboist flourished and I won the Concert Artists’ Guild competition I began to design fliers and posters for my recitals. I went to the School of Visual Arts to learn techniques of graphic design, and then to painting class with Irving Marantz at NYU. Summers at Chautauqua with Revington Arthur followed; then serendipity sent me to Sam Feinstein, with whom I worked intensively from1986 -2003. Veering toward a visual expression of my creativity has allowed a new freedom to soar in my music-making. I like to let certain subjects in my paintings shimmer, as certain notes in a melody vibrate, lighting up canvas or phrase from within. My landscapes celebrate the sensuality of nature as I find her in the crannies and corners of my garden in Leonia, as well as out-of -way spots encountered in my travels as a musician. I want my paintings to bring sunshine to the rooms in which they hang, just as I hope my music will lighten the lives of those who listen.“Miss Heller’s color creates a shimmering surface in her landscapes. Warm and cool, light and dark they dance around the canvas until flowers, bushes or trees emerge from a tapestry of marks. The seductive mosaic of color is satisfying in itself” Artspeak Magazine.