Fresh from her move to Las Vegas, Nevada this series is one of Abbey’s most experimental. Using a single color, she examined how different materials interacted with light and texture. Works in this series incorporate various materials such as fiberglass, polyurethane foam, acrylic sheets, and resin. The 3D relief works in this series were inspired by volcanic phenomena such as lava toes and folded lava.

“Using black as the lone color in a work of art emphasizes the significance of texture, light, and form. It also acts as a unifying force and conjures a multiplicity of meanings. Inner tensions from darkness come to life, pulsate, and enlarge under varied light conditions. Changing light also drastically alters form as it yields surface contours.”

– Rita Deanin Abbey