rocked by water – artist statement

Mellen — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:38:52 +0000

rocks can be small pebbles,

or cookie-sized

stacked into a castle.

rocks can also be massive:

they are teeth,

the bone structure of the earth’s crust.

water is eternal:

submerging so much rock

water can make satin from crusty lava

pummeling the sediment at shore.

when i hold

new life i immediately rock

that infant – my instinct moves

back and forth

ebbs and flows.

i know i cannot rock the water.

it drains between my fingers

but i can rock in water

afloat on surges.

these are both rock and water

dependable yet fluid

steadfast but dancing

the wax billows, seeps and undulates

quenching the dry canvas.

rocked

wax.

just as i am rocked

water

rocked by water

Mellen — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:03:48 +0000

This is a solo exhibition of encaustic paintings by Mary Ellen Chapman. This collection offers wide angle horizons combined with exaggerated close ups of Lake Huron waterscapes. Although inspired by specific studies from The Fishing Islands, these coastal images can remind one of shores from the Canadian Maritimes to the Carribean.

Mary Ellen paints from photographs that investigate the colours and textures of water hovering over rocks: ever changing with the shifting weather patterns.

What is fascinating about this pigment-embedded-in-wax technique is that, even after studying these paintings for long periods of time, the viewer can discover new revelations with each perusal. These are paintings that continue to provide riches for a lifetime of looking.

rocked by water is exhibiting at the Williams Mill Gallery from April 21-25, 2010. Open noon to 5 pm. Opening reception with the artist will be Saturday April 24th, 7 to 9 pm. For gallery location and blog go to www.williamsmill.com.

mellen » General Posts

rocked by water – artist statement

rocked by water