Hidden Symmetry - Another Lost Landmark (and the difference between a simile and metaphor)

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Oh-so-many years ago when passing down our main county road, I constantly marveled at this charming spire.  There were two on the rooftop of the dilapidated barn, one at each end.  I continually made mental notes to photograph them before gravity had its way.  

Eventually I did and two paintings resulted. From the time I was a child, certain objects had an animation to me...perhaps the result of too many Disney movies...Fantasia to be exact.  It is almost as if we are witness to the struggle of this spire's attempts at staying erect.  As time marches on, and being a woman of a certain age, I see myself in this struggle and view this architectural detail as a human version of myself.  Simile.

Both spires were removed weeks after photos were taken.  The spires remained on the ground for years, I believe.  They are no longer.

For inquiries about this work, please contact Hudson Fine Art and Framing.

Hidden Symmetry

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

The quest for balance in our lives, especially in today's fast-paced world, is a tough one, and ever-present.  For me, the self::others dialogue is the most difficult.  Although I enjoy socializing a bit, and having a few laughs with comrades, I am always most at home when I am by myself, my mind fully engaged in attempting to solve the mysteries of painting.  The feeling of being overwhelmed quickly dissolves after a good painting session, or two....or three. 

This painting involves not only the reality of a dilapidated steeple, but the juxtaposition of texture with the simplicity of a smoothly painted background.  It has always been one of my favorites.

"Hidden Symmetry" is part of the "Friends" exhibition at Group Ten Gallery in Kent, Ohio.  Come on along.  Lots of friends will be exhibiting:  Tom Baldwin, David Bamber, Vickie Theiss Callahan, Nancy Richards Davis, Sue Delac, Joseph Filipiak, Brant Gebhart, Terry Klausman, Deborah Vaughn Lindner, Bret Martell, Mike Nevin, Alan Peters, Annie Peters, John Sharp, and the rest of the artistic crew in the gallery.

Concept or Technique?

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Making art can be approached in different ways.  A young painting major in university told me that he always starts by putting his ideas on paper, by crafting a concept that he wishes to explore.  I find that university programs are concept-oriented, getting students to think outside of the box, to intellectually explore new ways of thinking through art.  Excellent.  This way of thinking produces thought-provoking work.

Local and regional art organizations tend to revere technique, the drawing and redrawing, the painting and repainting in the hopes of getting it right, of improving draftspersonship and the ages-old methods of paint application.  Lighting is everything.  Painting what you see right down to the yellow drape behind the model.  Also excellent.  This way of working can produce art that is beautifully engaging, work that creates pause through its paint application and color use.

I cannot imagine beginning a work by making a list....my life is already too filled with lists.  I am trying to escape lists!  My own method is strictly intuitive, creating movement and rhythm through stroke and color.  In many instances, when the subject simply does not challenge my intellect or my sensibilities, the work is discarded.

It is my own belief that the best of all scenarios is the work that marries technique along with concept.  Work from each school of thought is sought out and admired.  Judges seem to favor one or the other and it is our aim in Kaleidoscope to provide an opportunity for all work to shine.

No answers.  Just more questions.

I

Hidden Symmetry...

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

For the past 20+ years we have lived in a large-in-area-small-population farmy area....room to breathe. There were two steeples on a charming but decrepit barn on the way home that beckoned to me. Not just to me, but to everyone. Rumor had it that the owners were going to restore the barn. In fact, I believe that at one point, it was jacked up. The years passed and the rumors persisted. Although I am mostly a figurative painter, I am attracted by architectural detailing and those pieces parts that are handmade. So my motive is not so much nostalgia, but the desire for communities, as well as individuals, to celebrate their diversity. Walmart and other retail giants are slowly but surely creating communities that are homogenous. Any road trip will tell you that. Finally, Rick shot some photos for me and I painted both spires individually, a bit like figure paintings. Three weeks hence, the spires were removed from the barn and laid in the yard. I don't know where they are now.
My goal was to complement the extreme textures of the slate roof tiles with the smooth quality of the sky. Rooftops for me represent a conjoining of the earth and the sky, a puzzle piece that symbolizes also the metaphor of finite/infinite; man-made/nature; imperfect/perfect; and the list goes on. As I painted the steeple, I also realized that this damaged element was still upright, still under the influence of gravity, still vertical. I liken this to the resiliency of so many people I know. So many people I respect. Hidden symmetry.

Now you see it...now you don't

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Illusion is what painters do....the illusion of a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional ground. My community of Brimfield is probably like many semi-rural communities in that it is being invaded by commercial ventures such as WalMart, Lowe's, Dollar Tree, Appleby's and Kohl's. Things are changing rapidly. A beautiful barn on my road was always a stand-out due to it's two dilapidated but beautiful spires. I always hoped to paint them. A couple of years ago, I finally had an opportunity to produce a painting of each one. Whoa...........within a few weeks of completion, the spires were removed and disassembled, despite local rumors that the owners were going to completely refurbish the structure. I feel lucky. My goal in "Hidden Symmetry" was to juxtapose the extreme texture of the shingles and old wood with a complete smoothness of the background. As always, easier said than done. My normal painting style is full of texture and strokes. Painting the background was most difficult, what with trying to hide and smooth out brushstrokes. "Hidden Symmetry" can be seen in "The View From Here", currently on exhibit at Second April Galerie in Canton.

!noitcefrep

Hidden Symmetry   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.4

I recently saw a t-shirt with "perfection!" printed backwards......it made me chuckle and also summed up how I feel about that notion. We have lived in Brimfield Township for over 20 years. One of our landmarks was always a beautiful old barn with two amazing steeples, all in a state of disrepair. The rumor persisted that the owners were going to restore it. I finally got around to photos for a painting. Two paintings resulted. "Hidden Symmetry" is a metaphor for me of each of us. We seem to strive to be upright in so many ways. Sometimes it is exhausting. But we sag, lean, and topple.....we are flawed.....we have character....we are lovely. Two weeks after completing the paintings, the steeples were removed to the trash heap. We are also impermanent. "Hidden Symmetry" will be exhibited in Youngstown at The Butler Institute of American Art 72nd Midyear Exhibition from July 13 - August 24.