Ancient philosophy and abstract painting come together this month at the Greenfield Public Library as Valley-based artist Kim White invites visitors to consider transformation, not only of the natural world, but of themselves.
White’s exhibition, “Elements and Alchemy,” on display through Aug. 31, explores the relationship between humanity and the environment through abstract paintings inspired by the classical elements of water, earth, fire and air, alongside the symbolic process of alchemy. Drawing on decades of artistic practice, spiritual exploration and experience working in social services, White invites viewers to engage with the work on their own terms and trust their personal interpretations.
According to White, the exhibition’s title reflects ideas that have been present throughout her life. Her grandmother, who practiced astrology, introduced her to the symbolism of the four elements at an early age, while her interest in alchemy developed more recently through research into its historical and spiritual traditions.
“The qualities of the four elements can be related to aspects of the physical world that we can see,” White said. “They’re also related to the qualities inside people, so I’m interested in the connection between humans and the environment and the way that the four elements link us.”
That connection is central to the exhibition. White hopes her paintings encourage viewers to reconsider the ways in which people often separate themselves from nature, despite being inseparable from it.
“I think humans treat the environment poorly as a whole because we separate ourselves from nature,” she said. “But actually we are part of the environment. Studying the four elements draws us into a more harmonious relationship with it.”
White, who is a current member of Gallery A3 in Amherst, has been exhibited most recently in Shirley, Amherst and North Amherst, and is part of several private collections.
Before becoming a full-time artist, White spent years working in social services, supporting people with developmental disabilities, older adults living with dementia and individuals nearing the end of their lives. Those experiences, she said, fundamentally changed how she approaches both art and life.
Working with those populations taught her to focus on what is happening in the present moment rather than becoming caught up in social conventions and expectations. That same mindset now guides her work in the studio, where each brushstroke responds intuitively to the last.
“There’s not a lot of artifice,” she said. “There’s not a lot of weird social constructs that we have to dance around. It was just really present.”
Rather than overthinking composition, White allows color, shape and movement to unfold naturally across the canvas. Her background in art provides the technical foundation, but she strives to let instinct guide the finished work.
Movement also plays an important role in her process. Many of the paintings featured in “Elements and Alchemy” are large-scale works that require White to physically move around the canvas as she paints.
She compares the experience to dance, describing how dancers carve through three-dimensional space with their bodies. Her own movements across the canvas create a similar sense of rhythm, helping shape the painting before she develops depth through layers of color and form.
“I actually have to move around,” White shared. “So there’s a lot of movement when I’m working on them. It’s like I’m feeling out the space.”
Although White always enjoyed creating art, she did not initially see it as a career. She credits a professor at Holyoke Community College, Frank Cressoti, with giving her the confidence to trust her unconventional artistic instincts.
One piece in the exhibition holds particular significance. Titled “Negredo,” the painting references the first stage of the alchemical process, which symbolizes confronting one’s shadow or false sense of self. White described it as one of the most challenging works in the exhibition because it required balancing discomfort with accessibility.
Rather than creating something frightening, she wanted the painting to acknowledge difficult emotions while remaining inviting enough for viewers to engage with them.
“I want it to be uncomfortable,” she said, “but it’s still approachable. This is something we can do.”
Ultimately, White believes the meaning of each painting extends beyond her own intentions. While every work begins with her personal experiences and spiritual practice, she considers the viewer an essential part of the artistic process.
She encourages visitors to trust their instincts instead of worrying about whether they understand abstract art correctly. People do not need formal artistic training, she said, to have a meaningful experience with a painting.
The openness to interpretation is what White hopes audiences embrace most. Whether someone sees reflections of nature, spirituality, personal transformation or something entirely unexpected, she wants them to recognize that their perspective has value.
“The viewer is such an integral part of the experience,” White shared. “Just honor yourself and what you see. You don’t have to have an education in art to look at art.”
The Greenfield Public Library is open Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on White, visit kimwhitelittlehousearts.com.
