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Inner City

An exposé of the crumbling society I bare witness to every day, simply by walking through the neighborhoods of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago, Indiana.

Each city scape is contained in geometric puzzle like shapes; seperated, framed and presented as pieces of a much larger puzzle. I Utilized a very simple pallete, of only 4 to 5 colors, mixing and blending each to show the varying degrees of decay and distress.

Acrylic, Oil Pastel & Pencil on Linen
12x16"
2011

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Portfolios: May 2011 Curator Reviewed Artwork, Like a Walk in the Park
Location: Chicago, IL.

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Comment by Resident Curator on May 30, 2011 at 4:19pm: Curator Comment:

Inner City is a deceptively complex, multiform piece. I appreciate its formal properties, but was
somewhat perplexed after reading the brief description provided. I see erosion and maybe stylized urban grittiness, but I don't go as far as seeing decay in these works. They're far too rich visually to conjure a
breakdown of structure or society. This work in particular- Inner City, is totemic in shape, with manifold elements. It has an iconic purport, as the repeated shapes become jewel like; encrusted and almost ornate
in contrast to the simple geometric form. The smaller scale contributes to the preciousness of the simplified city shape.

'Ghost Town' is darker and more disjointed, but this irregularity could also be construed as whimsy. The challenge, or dichotomy in presenting this content also comes from the beauty we see in aged
surfaces. Layers of chipped paint and oxidizing patinas may slowly be eroding our cities, but for many of us it's difficult to dispute the visceral aesthetic quality. So it's only when I see more of your portfolio that I recognize the ironic titles to work that is playful, dig below the surface. Perhaps this is the conscious point of
your work- to lure the viewer into the image with a light hearted approach, and then present a more sober reality.