<p>"Red Sauna," a mixed-media on paper piece by Cynthia Lahti.</p>

Taivassalo, a municipality located in the southwest region of Finlands archipelago, is a place of personal importance to Portland artist Cynthia Lahti. Lahti will be exhibiting a collection of plein air paintings of the region. The exhibition opens from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 with a reception for Lahti. Lahti will be present and available to answer questions about the series. Light bites and drink will be provided by Astoria Coffeehouse and Bistro. The Taivassalo Paintings will be on view through Oct. 8.

Lahti, who holds a strong affinity for Astoria through family ties, traveled to Europe for an 11-week residency in Berlin during 2012. Upon completion of her residency focusing on her ceramic work, the mixed-media artist traveled to her familys homeland of Taivassalo, Finland. This region is where her grandparents spent their childhood before immigrating to Astoria in 1909. For Lahti, it was a profound experience getting to know extended family as well as experiencing first hand her familys ancestral land.

The time spent in Taivassalo granted Lahti an insight into her family’s history, forming a powerful connection to the place and her Finnish heritage. Inspired by this deep connection, she spent time painting the forest and Baltic Sea on which her cousins’ ancestral home is located. About her experience she states, “Being on the Baltic Sea is so beautiful, it is amazing to visit Vilulahti Bay and see where my grandfather grew up. All the time I am thinking, ‘this is what my relatives saw … this is how they felt.'”

The beauty of the Finnish landscape and the power of her Finnish heritage collided in Lahti’s paintings. They reflect a desire to go deeper into the ability of mark making to create metaphors in the construct of a landscape. Her use of different materials, colors and marks are vehicles for describing and expressing elements included in the landscape. They contrast and complement each other, creating a landscape that reflects the land itself and her emotional connection to it.

Lahti, who is represented by PDX Contemporary Gallery in Portland, was also a 2013 recipient to a Hallie Ford Family Foundation fellowship, for her contribution to Oregon visual arts.

Imogen Gallery is located at 240 11th St. Imogen also invites all to Friday Night Mixer, every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m;, stop in to see whats new and enjoy an adult beverage. For more information about Imogen Gallery or its represented artists call 503-468-0620 or stop by in person to enjoy the collection. Imogen Gallery can also be found on Facebook or at www.imogengallery.com