A Visit To / A Visit From / The Island Galapagos #3

Back to the topic of images that resonate with you throughout your life. I saw a painting by Eric Fischl at theWhitney many years ago but it ahs stayed with me and also informed my world as a basic truth.  The Galapagos has had a very hard time during the pandemic. No tourists no income. The people I spoke with told me of the hard times they have had. Rice, beans, yucca, and fish. As I was hiking in a forest of Palo Santo trees and Chandelier cactus I came upon an open beach. This is what saw. Not much changes, huh?

Eric Fischl, A Visit To / A Visit From / The Island, 1983
Susan Shaw, To and From the Island, 2021

Patterning

Just went to the Charles Burchfield show at the Whitney. Interestingly, at one time Burchfield worked as a designer at a wallpaper factory in Buffalo, New York, using his fascination with nature in the service of home decoration.

His wallpaper reminded me of a subway train I saw earlier this year. The whole train exterior had been patterned to advertise Target. It was slick and beautiful. Imagine if artists and surface designers were asked to do all the trains. What a phantasmagoria that would be.

Here's a blog I came across that features some stellar surface designers.

Remember OPEN CALL for Videos on Broadway.

Lessons in driving on Astroturf

I recently discovered Jane Dickson's work, through it's resonance with my own. She paints similar subject matter (to mine) on unusual surfaces such as Astroturf, sandpaper, vinyl, or carpet to exploiting the textural qualities of these materials.
She is vastly better known than myself having shown at The Whitney Museum, Creative Time, and The Metropolitan Museum.

Most recently she has completed a mosaic for MTA in the 42nd street station. The figures are weary revelers after New Year's Eve in Times Square. I'm sure she will continue to be an inspiration and aspiration for me.