Artist Statement
Vortex ('vor-"teks), n, plural vor•ti•ces ('vor-ti"sEz) also vor•tex•es ('vor-"tek-sez)

¹a mass of energy that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of a circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action.

A common thread runs throughout my drawings – a single focus, or several points, of energy in space. Vortices can be portals or gateways into and from other places…like wormholes. Place is defined as a location with a specific identity, whereas space is an abstract concept not bound by the delimiters of place.

First, I establish where the vortex, or vortices, will materialize. Thereafter, emerges revelation of varied forms flowing in and/or out of it. The final drawing results in an image where the vortex may have discharged objects or beings into a place never seen by the human eye or imagination, the charted journey through a wormhole to a parallel or alternate universe, or simply the relationship and interaction of line, shape, form, and texture; which I use as mapping tools to guide and navigate through the drawings.


Bio
Maya Gatewood was born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey.

Since her senior year in high school, Maya knew she wanted to pursue art seriously as a career and in the Spring of 2004, obtained her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, where an all female student body encouraged and promoted creative process and comprehensive bodies of work.

She received her MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree from Montclair State University in 2006, majoring in Studio Art with a concentration in drawing.

Maya continues to exhibit in the New York Tri State Area and many online, local, and international galleries.

Her future aspirations are to open an art gallery/studio workshop for emerging artists to create and exhibit work.