S H E R RY K A RV E R
Tr u e S t o r y N ove m b e r 2 0 – Ja n u a r y 1 5
Pushing traditional boundaries of oil painting, photography, and text, I have combined them to create a unique hybrid that confronts today's individual and societal issues so rampant in our fast-paced, impersonal metropolitan areas: alienation, loneliness, loss of identity, history, memory, how others view us, and how we can stand out from the crowd since we each have our own unique story to tell. My mixed media, photo-based work originates from photographs I have taken on city streets in New York, Paris, Milan, and in iconic buildings such as Grand Central Terminal and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. These are one-of-a-kind works, not photo editions, and all of the color is hand-painted with oils. I began writing text over some of the figures in my photos as a way to personalize or individualize them, and make them stand out from the crowd. These brief narratives about the people are from my imagination, based solely on their appearance or stance. By using text in my work, it adds another layer, and gives the viewer a chance to "experience" the artwork, and become part of the process by reading it. I superimpose these "biographies" on top of the individuals, almost as if they are wearing their stories like an article of clothing. I give a little bit of fictional history about the person; where they are from, their age, what they do, their hopes, their dreams and aspirations, and often something embarrassing or personal that they would rather not have revealed. The figures are often caught in movement, conveying our individual journeys, where we are all "collectively alone". In my work the documentary nature of the B&W photograph merges with the painterly qualities of oil, establishing a dialogue between the two. I mount my black & white images on top of 2" deep wood panels, and hand paint them with numerous layers of oil glazes to build up the color. The final surface has a glossy UV resin coating so the viewer can see their own reflection, and become 'part' of the photo-based work. Sherry Karver Cover: Like There’s No Tomorrow, 2017, 30" x 40" x 2" photo images, oil, narrative text, and resin surface on wood panel $9,000
New Paintings by
S h e r r y K a r ve r Tr u e S t o r y November 20 – January 15 Opening Reception First Thursday December 7 6–9 PM
SGFA S U E G R E E N WO O D F I N E A R T 330 north coast hwy laguna beach, ca 92651 949.494.0669
suegreenwoodfineart.com
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Detail
Inner Thoughts and Ou
Outer Actions, 201 36" x 46" x 2.5" photo images, oil, narrative text, German glass glitter and resin surface on wood panel $12,000
Mystic Moments, 2017 26" x 30" x 2" photo Images, oil, narrative text, and resin surface on wood panel $7,400
Revolving Door I, 2017 24" x 20" x 1.5" photo Images, oil and resin surface on wood panel $3,200
Introspection, 2017 12" x 18" x 1.5" photo images, oil, and resin surface on wood panel $2,000
At the Edge of Perception, 2017 36" x 36" x 2.5" photo images, oil, narrative text, glass glitter and resin on wood panel $9,200
Clarity, 2017 30" x 30" x 2" photo Images, oil, narrative text, and resin surface on wood panel $8,200
Revolving Door II, 2017 24" x 20" x 1.5" photo Images, oil and resin surface on wood panel $3,200
Detail
Choreography of the Moment, 2017 38" x 42" x 2.5" photo images, oil, narrative text, and resin on wood panel $11,000
Mingling in the Light, 2017 30" x 30" x 2" photo Images, oil, narrative text and resin surface on wood panel $8,200
Revolving Door III, 2017 24" x 20" x 1.5" photo Images, oil and resin surface on wood panel $3,200
Edge of Memory, 2017 25" x 30" x 3" photo images, oil, narrative text, and resin surface on wood panel $7,000
Revolving Door I, II, III (triptych) 24" x 60" x 1.5" photo
o Images, oil and resin surface on wood panel $9,600
Detail
Lingering Observations, 2015 40" x 20" x 2" photo images, oil, narrative text, and resin on wood panel $7,200
Collective Mythologies, 2015 36" x 42" x 2.5" photo images, oil, narrative text, and resin on wood panel $11,000
Unfinished Stories, 2015 30" x 40" x 2" photo images, oil, narrative text, German glass glitter and resin on wood panel $8,600