Hey Gang, My show at Flicker is coming down Monday, so swing by if you get the chance.
Embraces
And Other Short Stories
I began this series at a time when the world seemed full of sadness and despair. I couldn’t listen to the radio or look at a newspaper without feeling a sense of hopelessness. On a personal level I was dealing with an impossibly sad situation that seemed to consume all the happiness I had ever known. I made a concerted effort to seek out positive examples of love and affection in an attempt to restore my faith in humankind…as a kind of antidote to the bad news I couldn’t seem to avoid. I needed to look no further than my studio door. I found within my artist / student community countless genuine expressions of love, laughter, care and support. Furthermore, I began scanning newspapers for positive images, seeking out the occasional good news. This body of work is based on a combination of candid snapshots of my friends and colleagues and found images of strangers.
Originally, I envisioned paintings of people shaking hands. The lines from the George Weiss, Bob Thiele song made famous by Louis Armstrong “What A Wonderful World” captured my imagination ---
I see friends shaking hands
Saying ‘How do you do?’
They’re really saying
‘I love you’
The handshake proved to be problematic compositionally…all those human H shapes weren’t working on the square format I had already decided on. Instead, I chose the embrace as a symbol for fondness and adoration. I delighted in the geometry of the shape of two bodies as one: two heads and four arms intertwined - a reminder of the importance of human touch.
Since beginning this work, there has been a major change in our national political climate. While we still face devastating problems, there is palpable feeling of hope and change in the air. I still have a need to purposefully balance news of the serious issues we face with positive reminders and sometimes humor. I can honestly say I’m beginning to feel a bit better; and yes, this can be a Wonderful World.
Jennifer Hartley
