West Orange 2000 • June to September 2000

"Moonet at Giverny," was conceived to appeal to a general audience. She set an interesting challenge for herself by choosing to depart from her own style and to demonstrate her skill and mastery of technique by reinterpreting the work of a familiar and beloved artist, Claude Monet. Her vision was to provide a decorative work that would bring images of art usually found in museums into a public space within the community.

Saj examined Monet's paintings at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City in order to prepare for this project, closely studying Monet’s style. Through study of Monet's original works and writings, Saj had a starting point that allowed her to reflect Monet's method of working. She focused on creating loose brushstrokes, in careful rendering of areas of light and shade, and in composing a profusion of his favorite floral images from his beloved gardens at Giverny.

She found particular inspiration in Monet's admonition:

"When you go out and paint, try to forget what objects you have before you, a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think, here is a little square of blue, her an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it just as it looks to you…"

Once the life-size fiberglass reproduction of a cow was in her studio, it presented an unusual challenge for a painter accustomed to working on flat surfaces. Over the next few weeks this inanimate cow began to develop a personality. The artist found herself learning its every curve and giving it life through application of many layers of color.

Saj affectionately dubbed her work Moonet. Moonet will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 23rd at 9 am at the Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange where it will be on display throughout the summer.

For more information please go to www.cowparade.net

Moonet at Giverny	Moonet at Giverny detail