Polage® is an art form invented by Austine Wood-Comarow in 1967. Unlike traditional painting or photography, these luminous works are created with no pigment at all. Instead, Austine pioneered the use of birefringent materials such as clear cellophane layered between polarizing filters. Much like a prism, these materials break white light into pure colors of the spectrum. When viewed through a polarizing filter or displayed in a special motorized lightbox, the images spring to life, shifting and flowing in a continuous play of rainbow hues.
This exhibition celebrates the vision of Austine Wood-Comarow (1942–2020) and the continuation of her groundbreaking medium through three generations of artists. After moving to Boulder City in 1976, Austine opened a studio/gallery in 1986, where she created both one-of-a-kind artworks and large-scale installations for hospitals, museums, and public spaces across the world. Her eldest daughter, Cara Wood Ginder, collaborated with her for decades, while her younger daughter, Erika Wood, joined in the late 1990s, advancing new approaches to the medium. In 2019, Cara’s daughter Charlotte began learning the family art form, extending the legacy into a third generation.
Though Austine passed away in 2020, her daughters and granddaughter continue to innovate within this remarkable medium. Together, they carry forward her vision, creating vibrant, ever-changing imagery that reveals the hidden magic of light.
On exhibit at Sahara West Library from February 6, 2026 through May 2, 2026
Gallery reception on Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
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