BIRDS, & BIRDS AND GIRLS...
Brake Time |
Brake Time offers a subtle commentary on the tension that can result between man and technology. The birds seem to be above it all, so to speak, but there is an ominous undertone here, hinting that technology will ultimately not leave them untouched.
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Ornithology |
With Charlie "Bird" Parker's music in the background, Ornithology connects man and bird on many levels, and validates man's appreciation of music as well as the study of birds.
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Get Back Jack!Black birds denote mystery, magic, secrets, the unknown, potential, and the perception of things that are not obvious. Ironically, the dark color of the bird, which can be referred to as the void, is an emptiness waiting to be filled with the light of consciousness. I have chosen to place two birds in the foreground to represent a variety of dichotomies: the tension between thought and action, light and dark, knowing and not knowing, male and female, observer and actor, and history and future. The background of this piece is almost calligraphic with its blue symbol repeated on the red ground. The contrast of the two opposing colors makes the canvas dance visually. The symbolism of the two colors represents the conflict all women experience as they come of age: red represents passion, even anger, while blue represents calmness and acceptance. The ball and jack are symbolic of childhood games. This particular game, once called "knucklebones," was also used as a kind of fortune telling device. In this painting, the ball and jack represent the allure of remaining innocent or childlike.
The string of birds on the girl's skirt definitely makes a fashion statement in that they symbolize the fact that she is asserting her dominance over her environment while retaining her femininity. It also harkens back to the days of the poodle skirt, thereby recognizing the history of women in their struggle for equality. The dots on the girl's form further enforce the power of elaboration and decoration as tools to control one's perceived place in society. The girl appears only in silhouette, but her body language, or gesture, is easily read as being determined, even overtly aggressive. While she is somewhat reminiscent of the fashion dolls that were birthed in the late 50s and early 60s, her figure is not full-blown, but shows her to be just on the verge of womanhood. |