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L'HISTOIRE CACHE  (Pandemic Series # 2)

Original,  2020__ Oil on Canvas__ 36 in. x 36 in. 

One of the two earliest pieces in The Pandemic Series, (the other being WINTER IN HUBEI),  'viral capsules' make their first appearance  - a reference to the nCV19 virus capsule.  The "COVID" virus itself is still hidden as it is only January 2020, but I know it is there.  If you look at the work up close, you'll see the virus corona in bas relief,  the "crowns" (def. "corona" = crown).  They are camouflaged in the work, but sit atop the viral capsules and are about to 'break out' and make their presence known.  Painting in my floral style, i was addressing the beginning of the Pandemic. 

At around this time,  I was invited as part of a "critique" working artist group to show several works alongside others in that group - for critique by a well-known Los Angeles 'art critic.'  His comments:  "Your work is very beautiful and your use of color is spectacular,  just realize that florals are for a niche audience because contemporary art addresses social issues and your work says nothing!" I was actually stunned, as he was looking at one of the Australia Gem paintings (addressing the wildfires) and two of my viral-capsule paintings with crowns (addressing the coronavirus pandemic).  Hmmpf! I thought to myself,  but his words gave me something to think about. Was I being way too obscure? Would anybody ever know what my work is really about? Did I need to put text next to each piece to explain its meaning?  (I began to . . .)  Still,  always open to other perspectives,  I heard and listened and began to add figures into my paintings, and the very obvious graphs that appeared all over on MSM.  And going forward, I carried that symbolism throughout my work in 2020  - with the one exception being  Last Dawn,  which addressed another important historical event of 2020. 

As to the palette,  I wanted something very feminine and pretty -- to offset the darkness of an impending humanitarian disaster (potential disaster, at that moment nobody knew for sure what was going to transpire) .  Pink and a pale lavender fit that desired requirement and just felt good. 

* Note:  The painting was started/completed in 2020, so it is in the Cali Collection (2018- current).  Technically,  it's part of The Pandemic Series.  Because stylistically it more closely approximates that of my other work,  I've left it in the Cali Collection. 

ADDENDUM   One month earlier.
I’m at home watching CNN as the COVID story begins to unfold . . . This particular virus - it is not a simian virus.   Nonetheless, just for a moment,  my mind drifts back back back to late December just before Christmas, and I suddenly see the face of a young woman in the mountains north of Tokyo.  She is in her mid-twenties, and she is not Japanese.  Nor does she work here, at this place.  She stands alone, apart from all of the tourists from France, Australia and New Zealand, and she is carefully observing the snow monkeys and doing something I found a bit strange.  I don’t know exactly why, but she caught my attention and what she was doing struck me at the time . . . . and suddenly I can’t get this young woman and what she was doing out of my mind . . . . . and the thought of it stops me dead in my tracks. . . .

PROVENANCE: 

GLOSSARY Show,  Juror Louis Stern, Stern Fine Arts,  

Gallery 825

825 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA  90069

January 21- February 24,  2023

Opening 10AM -5PM on Saturday,  January 21st, 2023 @ Gallery 825

(*Street parking available, as well as a local garage)  

*   Archival Prints Available   * 

*   Original is also Available   *