Architectural Moments

Three Pears and Books

30" x 48"

With the painting "Three Pears and Books," I was interested in contrasting the perishable fruit with the 100 to 200 year old books.  I wanted to emphasize the earthy colours of the books and table and then bring in the primary reds of the pears to see what sort of music would occur.  The warm, natural sunlight striking the facades of the books created deep and satisfying shadows.  I began to think of the stacks of books as architectural moments - each book a building block that reminded me of the crumbling facades of old buildings.  The pears seem to me like protagonists in a silent drama.

In the age of the Kindle, Kobo, Sony E-Reader, Ipad, and etc., I want to closely examine the book as a physical object or artifact that needs to be commemorated and I want to study it as a sculptural object, but also as one that lasts.  Their persistence as objects is what intrigues me.

I had known the work of Manolo Valdes, but had not seen his book sculptures until recently. I think we approach the book as object in a similar way.  The monumental, slightly comical, rickety quality of his sculpture is appealing.  There is a humility and warmth created in the way he uses his material that I admire.



Following are three details of the above painting: