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This series, is a autobiography written with painted landscapes from my beautiful black community.
The places depicted, are urban landscapes from the "Eastside" of my city.
The paintings are done in the "ashcan" school of thought.
Using palette knife and various brush techniques, I am trying to create a rich texture that can be enjoyed, simply, for its texture up close, but also gives enough compositional attributes, that it looks dimensional from far away.
I am purposefully picking obscure compositions, so that I am not simply giving away the place I am trying to depict, but giving the viewer a challenge to figure out where I was in this place. To place the viewer in the space.
When looking at the paintings, the viewer is looking from my vantage point. By looking at the work, I am directing their sight to what I see/saw. Also, this title is to imply, that where or whomever my viewer is, we are empathically connected by sharing the experience of the art.
I hope a collector or patron owns a work, and is able to take this small painting to that place, and discover a part of my narrative, through the places I've lived.
Using a simple color palette, I want the work to have a simplicity and momentary feel, like a memory. Leaving parts unrefined, and unfinished to express the nature of memories.
I am constantly battling documentation and expression in this work, and I hope that comes across to the viewer.
Postscript:
All of my work follows an overall narrative, but this series will have a more direct connection to, The Art of Gentrification in 4$tages. Utilizing the same painting techniques, I will be painting empty lots instead of focusing on obscure view points of specific places. These empty lots are created from the demolition of houses and buildings in my neighborhood.
Across the st on Jefferson ave
9" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas, 2017
From where I stand, is where you are.
MLK Park
9" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas, 2017
From where I stand, is where you are.
(private collector)
E. Utica Station
9" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas
From where I stand, is where you are.
(private collector)