Highwire
Marianne Trent
Acrylic, fabric, paper on wood panel, 15" x 13"; SOLD
Exhibited at Village West Gallery in the Bread and Circuses show, Winter 2015
"Painting is meditation, play, and expressive journaling, which allow a series of moments to be captured. The intention of the painting is to allow the process of its execution speak as loudly as any subject matter that the viewer may resonate with. I hope to convey a sense of truth so that the viewers can make their own personal connections.
"The images reveal themselves as layers of paint, fabric, and manipulated papers are added and removed from the canvas. It is a direct and instinctive process where decisions are made individually as the piece evolves.
"Reductive methods like sanding and scratching create a quality of aging and reveal hidden layers. Up-cycled materials such as reclaimed wood and rusted metal are used in the work allowing the energy of the past to be incorporated into the piece. The wooden assemblages are intended to be bridges between the imaginary world of the painting and our physical world. They extend, delineate and divide the images in the paintings and interpret them into our reality.
"A high altitude perspective informs the work as themes such as the environment, spirituality and manmade structures appear in the paintings. Elements such as circles, waves, and lines repeat within the work and typically represent natural elements. A mystical world outside our own physical reality influences the process and content of the paintings.
"High wire" addresses the individual and collective fears of both the performer and the audience. How one approaches and overcomes fear informs each of us on a daily basis in many ways including how we relate to others and the world. The practice of watching someone in a perilous situation for entertainment is a strange cultural phenomenon that seems to be gaining in popularity with the trend of reality programming. Does this voyeuristic viewing of someone in danger allow someone to address their own fears or is it just entertainment?
If you are interested in more work from this artist, please contact Marianne Trent or visit mariannetrent.com.