Painter Rebecca Zilinski says NOS 11.21.3 has become a "signature piece" for her most recent body of work, which won third prize at "New York Painters '04," curated by Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum curator Susan Cross, on exhibition at the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie until July 13.

NOS 11.21.3 began as part of "a series of 'code' drawings to help me remember what I did on a given day," Zilinski explains.  "Turning these drawings into encaustic paintings has become a method for me to make conscious choices about what things I decide to focus and meditate on.  Then the encasing and preserving them in wax sort of seals the deal for me."

A Hudson Valley native, Zilinski lives and paints in Rifton.  [Full disclosure: Zilinski works part-time in the production department of this magazine.] Zilinksi received her BFA in painting from SUNY New Paltz in May 2004.  Starting July 17, her work will be exhibited at The Gallery Shop in Poughkeepsie.  Zilinski's work is featured online at www.nynarts.com; she can be reached at rzilinski@yahoo.com.