Waxing Philosophic:
Christine Deemer and Beth Genson
July 11 – September 20, 2025
Encaustic reflections on the essentiality of water
20 North Gallery and the artists will be welcoming friends and collectors at the free Public Reception for Waxing Philosophic on Friday, July 11, from 6 – 8 p.m.
The exhibit continues through September 20, 2025.
For the summer of 2025, 20 North Gallery presents Waxing Philosophic: Christine Deemer and Beth Genson, featuring 2 Northwest Ohio artists each working in encaustic oil – a unique painting medium with an enduring history in the arts. Utilizing the fluidity and sculptural qualities of this painting medium, the artworks in the Waxing Philosophic exhibit explore themes of water & wildlife preservation, geology, pollution and the natural beauty of ecosystems.
Through rolling seascapes, glowing sunsets and aerial views, viewers will delight in both traditional and abstracted landscapes. Christine Deemer brings her great appreciation for lakes, oceans and the preservation of marine life to her encaustic and mixed media on panel works. Incorporating methods inspired by the Japanese charred wood technique, shou sugi ban, Deemer’s painting process of layering, fusing, removing and reworking her encaustic medium mirrors the energy of the tides she depicts. Through her own luminous application of encaustic medium, Beth Genson captures Midwestern agricultural lands, in familiar as well as abstracted representations. Genson’s series featured in Waxing Philosophic reflects on the tension between the destruction and beauty of the land that nourishes & sustains us.
Christine Deemer (Perrysburg, Ohio) holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), a Master of Business Administration from Regis University (Denver, Colorado) and Master of Art in Museum Studies from Western Illinois University (Macomb, Illinois). With a foundation in oil and acrylic painting, Deemer has been working in the encaustic medium since 2016. Deemer has consistently exhibited her work, from juried regional shows across Iowa and Ohio, to international exhibitions in The Netherlands. She has coordinated exhibitions in Ohio for institutions, galleries and non-profit organizations, in addition to her current position as Art and Rare Book Curator & Archivist for the Sisters of St. Francis and Lourdes University (Sylvania, Ohio). With an appreciation for ocean life, held since her childhood in Southern California, Deemer’s encaustic and mixed media paintings explore themes of environmental preservation and the beauty of natural bodies of water.
Beth Genson (Portage, Ohio) received her Bachelor’s degrees in Fine Art and Education from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, Ohio) in addition to studies at Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France). She has completed supplemental training in Encaustic Painting and Advanced Teaching Encaustics through R&F Paints in Kingston, New York. As an arts instructor, Genson has supervised and led workshops & courses for students of varied level of experience, including at Bowling Green State University, St. Wendelin High School (Fostoria, Ohio), Owens Community College (Perrysburg, Ohio), Schedel Arboretum and Gardens (Elmore, Ohio), the 577 Foundation and more. Genson has shown her work in numerous juried regional exhibitions, art festivals and solo exhibitions across Ohio, earning her competitive awards and grants. Twice she has been selected for an Accelerator Grant through The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (Ohio). Her work forms part of the collections of private, corporate and institutional collections such as that of Farmers Insurance, Thayer Chevrolet and Owens Community College.
For purchase inquiries, please contact 20 North Gallery:
419-241-2400 or info@20northgallery.com
Waxing Philosophic: Christine Deemer and Beth Genson Installation Images:
