Written by Nicole Gaudier
A statement from the artist:
“While studying the selections in the Our Shared Past portfolio, I knew White Shawl was to be my inspiration. After studying the image, I closed my laptop and sketched it on my canvas. Over the course of several weeks, I continued to work on the painting without reviewing the original image, trusting my memory.
In the course of interpreting my memory of the original image, it appears I changed things up a bit. I added a lot more color and indeed, changed the white shawl to green. The women moved outside and became surrounded by butterflies. Did I improve upon the original image? Who can say? Perhaps this is truly how we treat our past. We have brief encounters with it and our memory of it adds or subtracts color and symbols to enhance our original experience. Now looking at the painting, I can see my own past experiences. The lady with the purse became my grandmother and the other lady, my aunt. I can clearly see the two of them. Without intention or knowing I have shared my past.”
Marcus Kenney, A Night to Remember, 2013, from the film still White Shawl, Wall paper, checks, marble dust, oil, acrylic, gold leaf, tissue paper, cards, lace, cigarette paper, blue print, postage stamp, acrylic polymer medium, etc. on canvas
Marcus Kenney ‘s work A Night to Remember will be in the Our Shared Past exhibition, on view in the Stein Gallery from December 17, 2013 to May 25, 2014.
There will be artist appearances at the Stein Gallery January through April. Each Saturday, artists from the exhibition will be in the Gallery from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Others will make appearances throughout the day on Weaver Free Saturdays, and on Tuesday evenings during the exhibition.
