IC O N S , M Y THS A ND POEM S JAMES MCN E I L L ME SPL É
ICONS, MYTHS AND POEMS
T
his exhibition of 33 paintings brings together work in a variety of forms, including oil, aqueous, and mixed media. Although the materials are diverse, the themes that run through this body of work are familiar threads with which I have been weaving my figurative paintings for some thirty years. Iconic images of both a religious and mythic nature continue to inspire my work. The myths interpreted in these paintings are both ancient, i.e. Apollo and Daphne, and modern, Aurora Leads Apollo, which refers to the city of Aurora, Illinois. This city was selected by Thomas Edison to launch his electric light, replacing gas lights in 1892, thereby opening the floodgates to the twentieth century and our ongoing twentyfirst century love affair with technology. The poems of Elise Paschen inspired my painting Dune Music, which was created for the cover of
her book of poems, Bestiary (Red Hen Press). The painting, Hera Changing Channels inspired the poet Effie Mihopoulos to write her poem “Harmony” after seeing the painting in an exhibition. This sort of interaction is often the seed that later flowers into a painting, for example Tulipomania. This work combines the ancient myth of Flora with a historical event in Dutch finance (seventeenth century). I was informed by an acquaintance that this event has recently (2009) been added to university class books for students studying economics. Like many narrative myths, in which base metals turn to gold or as in Ovid’s writings about humans metamorphosed into rivers, trees, and rainbows, miraculous events are commonplace. The real miracle rests in your eye alone. Iconic comprehension instantly enters the eye of the viewer, as well as the mind of the poet. This is why I continue to paint. J. M. MESPLÉ
Front cover: IRIS TOTEM. 2012. Oil and acrylic on canvas. Diptych, 108 µ 36 in. Back cover: detail of AURORA LEADS APOLLO.
IRIS’ BRIDGE TO THE GOLDEN AGE Oil on canvas. 24 µ 48 in.
2012
TULIPOMANIA
2012
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 48 in.
ICONIC NATURE
2012
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 60 in.
FLORA’S PALETTE
2012
Oil on canvas. 30 µ 12 in.
DOUBLE VENUS
2012
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 40 µ 30 in.
BEETHOVEN’S APOTHEOSIS
2012
Oil on canvas. 60 µ 36 in.
GEMINI
2012
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 40 µ 30 in.
APOLLO’S TOUCH
EARTH AND SKY
2012
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
AURORA LEADS APOLLO Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
2012
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
2012
PERSEPHONE AND PLUTO THE UNDERWORLD 2012
2012 IN
Oil on canvas. 38 µ 30 in.
CADUCEUS
2011
Ink, sanguine and gouache on paper. 20 µ 16 in.
SIREN’S SONG
2008
Ink, watercolor and gouache on paper. 11 µ 14 in.
JOURNEY
2009
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 48 in.
ACTAEON AND DIANA
2011
Oil and egg tempera on panel. 24 µ 24 in.
DRAWN BY VENUS
2011
Oil, egg tempera and sanguine on paper. 10 µ 8 in.
GANYMEDE’S GIFT
2009
Ink, sanguine, watercolor and gouache on paper. 24 µ 18 in.
DRAWN BY MERCURY
2011
Ink, gouache and silverpoint on paper. 10 µ 8 in.
JANUS REFLECTION
2004
Ink, gouache, watercolor, chalk and silver leaf on paper. 21K µ 28O in.
ART MONEY
2011
Watercolor, gouache and carbon on paper. 11¾ µ 16½ in.
PRAIRIE VENUS
2005
Oil on canvas. 49 µ 37 in.
CHICAGO CLASSICS
2011
Watercolor and gouache on paper. 11¾ µ 16½ in.
GALATEA AWAKENS
2000
Oil on canvas. 76 µ 36 in.
HERA CHANGING CHANNELS
1999
Oil and egg tempera on panel. 29 µ 26 in. Collection of Robert Salm
CHICAGO DREAMS
2008
Oil on canvas. 59 µ 47 in.
HERE AND PARADISE
2010
Oil on canvas. 30 µ 40 in.
RED MOON RISING
2009
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
PAN’S DANCE
2011
Oil and egg tempera on paper. 10 µ 8 in.
BUFFALO DREAMS
2006
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 48 in.
DUNE MUSIC
2008
Oil on egg tempera on panel. 24 µ 30 in. Collection of Elise Paschen
JACOB’S LADDER
1998
Oil and egg tempera on panel. 44 µ 31 in.
ADAM AND EVE
1986–2006
Oil on canvas. Diptych, 72 µ 84 in.
JAMES MCNEILL MESPLÉ
O
riginally from the Missouri Ozarks, James Mesplé developed an interest in classical mythology during summers spent with his half-Osage grandfather, who shared with him many Native American tales of nature and animals. The common theme of the battle between good and evil, the “battle of the Cosmos,” inspires many of Mesplé’s paintings. His work captures the spirit of Prometheus who, throughout history, has symbolized unyielding strength that resists oppression, and it reflects man’s quest to obtain spiritual enlightenment and creative freedom. Mesplé attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, and studied painting for two years with Fred Shane. Through Shane he met Thomas Hart Benton, who introduced him to the “mixed technique”—a painting technique that combines egg tempera and oil paint.
Mesplé moved to Chicago in 1968 and, after graduating with honors from Northeastern Illinois University in December 1970, began teaching art at Chicago’s Francis W. Parker School. While teaching at Parker, he returned to his study of painting under Karl Wirsum at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He also became a parttime instructor in the SAIC Studios Program. Over the years, Mesplé has taught egg tempera workshops at Midway Studios, University of Chicago; North Central College; the BASIC Program (advanced studies for art teachers) at SAIC; and to Ed Paschke’s graduate students at Northwestern University. Since 1988, he has worked full-time on his paintings, which have been showcased in numerous exhibitions both locally and nationally. His work also is included in many public and private collections. N AT H A N H A R PA Z Curator, Koehnline Museum of Art
CATALOG: ROBERT SALM ©201 2 JAMES M C NEILL MESPLÉ JAMESMESPLE@YAHOO.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/JAMESMESPLE