RFjournal

WINTER BABY

Being born on the first day of winter has given me a special connection to the season. As a kid, it was tuff competing with the gravity of the holidays, but as I’ve gotten older, I can see winter as something deeper—something symbolic. It’s a season that’s about cold and stillness, but also warmth and rebirth. As the light begins to chip away at the long dark nights that the fall ushers in. It’s no surprise that winter has become one of my favorite inspirations, especially as someone who frames and showcases art.

Winter is a time when the world slows down. There’s a calmness that comes with it—the way snow softens the noise, the way trees stand bare and proud, everything is stripped down to its essentials. It’s not all quiet though. Winter has a wild side, too. Storms come out of nowhere, generating massive ice cold waves. The smallest flame can fight against the dark and transform everything around it. That contrast—between calm and chaos, between stillness and power—is what makes winter so fascinating. It’s also what makes it such an incredible subject for art.

Winter Reflected in Art

At Remnant Framing’s upcoming Winter Gallery Reception, we’re diving headfirst into that contrast. The three artists we’re featuring—Elizabet Castro, Yuri Ozaki, and Matt Bender—each bring their own perspective on what winter means, and together, their work captures everything I find interesting about the season.

Elizabet Castro’s landscapes transport you immediately and take you to a place where time stands still. Her paintings show the quiet beauty of snow-covered mountains, and dreamscapes of Mars. There’s always a sense of energy just beneath the surface. It’s the kind of stillness that is slightly breathing, like the earth is resting.

Yuri Ozaki’s still-life paintings , illuminated by candlelight is wonderful expression of the contrast of winter. The stillness of the objects within the warm light of the candle’s flame gives me comfort. Candlelight is her centerpiece—a small but powerful source of light that cuts through the darkness. Her work reminds me of those quiet, reflective moments when you’re curled up at home, soaking in the glow of a single flame. It’s simple, but it feels significant.

Then there’s Matt Bender’s Winter Waves—bold, energetic, and full of movement. His prints show the power of the ocean in the harshest conditions. It’s a reminder that winter isn’t just a time for rest; it’s a time for resilience and appreciation for the power of the Earth. Beneath the ice, and the stillness of winter, there’s always something moving, something alive, something unstoppable.

Winter’s Lessons

What I’ve come to appreciate about winter—both in life and in art—is the contrast and how much it teaches us. It’s a season that asks us to slow down and reflect, to find beauty in the quiet, but it also challenges us to stay warm, adapt and push through.

So, if winter means something to you—if you’ve ever found yourself mesmerized by a snowfall, inspired by a roaring fire, or awed by the sheer power of nature—I hope you’ll join us on Saturday, January 25th, from 5 to 7 PM at Railroad Room 3B at Lowe Mill for our Winter Gallery Reception. It’s a chance to celebrate the season through the eyes of three incredible artists, with different styles and backgrounds to reflect on the contrast of winter, and to maybe see it in a new light.

Come for the art, the community, and the warmth.