body politic series: graphite and acrylic on paper
Late in the summer of 2011, I was surprised when I started these dark paintings. I'd had a show at Archway Gallery in May of 2011 entitled “Caliente: Full Frontal Color.” This show was comprised of 32 brightly colored oil painting on canvas. The structural lines of these abstract works were drawn from dancers. I saw these paintings as a celebration of life. Suddenly I’m applying layers and layers of black paint and various acrylic mediums with my hands and with old frayed brushes.
When I realized I was viscerally impacted by the national news, I understood that these paintings were about my fear and dismay over our current vicious political dialogue.