October 7 - November 13, 2021
From Craighead-Green Gallery:
“The paintings in EYE MUSIC were created during a time that was different than we have known. While everything shifted or stopped, creativity moved in new and beautiful ways. Zoom calls allowed choirs to perform together form their homes. Grandparents acquired computer skills just to visit their families. In the midst of sad times, joy crept into our lives in small ways.
As an artist, I felt that I was stealing time during the quiet. I allowed myself freedom with palettes and techniques. The paintings for this show are very colorful and actually very different for my work. Pink emerged in my paintings during the greyest period many of us have experienced.
People often ask what inspires me. My answer is always the same….. “Painting”. Rarely is inspiration what drives me to the studio. I live by the words of Picasso… “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
Without question, music is my greatest inspiration. My studio is never silent. Any painting begins by creating an atmosphere that allows me to gather my thoughts. I touch paint, tools and things familiar in my studio. Inside that simple movement, I begin to explore how to combine tangible and intangible elements. Making an initial commitment to the canvas begins a conversation in paint. Inside the process of doing the work, the sizzle of inspiration faithfully finds me.
I have learned that everything I have seen or experienced rests in my memory. Working in Mexico for so many years has changed my paintings. A country highly progressive in design, there are also the very simple and basic ways that people repair and repurpose things for every day use. Over the years, my paintings have become highly textured. The influence of common repurposing techniques in Mexico has shaped the way I create.
In the paintings at Craighead Green Gallery, I have used paint, textiles, and metal, nail heads and hand stitching to create layered surfaces. The palettes are both colorful and monochromatic. The edges of the canvas of my paintings have become significant to me. Few paintings are without one or more metal and/or textile detail.
I am often told that my paintings are “sculptural”…a description I like. I rarely limit materials and I push myself to find new ways to layer surfaces. My goal is to give a sense of variety and fullness within a body of work.
The paintings in this show remind me of the words of my artist friend, Toller Cranston. Each time, he saw me he would say “Think Pink” …I heard that over and over as pink emerged in these paintings. The painting, MESSY LOVE, was titled by a friend who saw it on my phone at the nail salon. Immediately, the title stuck. Thank you Ryan!
My hope for this show is that seeing my paintings will feel like music to the eyes. It is very special to have people come to see my paintings during this time. I am grateful for the opportunity to show at Craighead Green Gallery with Kenneth Craighead, Steve Green and William Bardin. Texas is my birth state and I am always happy to return to Dallas!”
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