My traveler’s impression along roads through the southwestern states…
“Quiet Waters”- 24″x24″ gel medium, acrylic on muslin
From California, through Texas, I followed the long thin tread that divides the road through this 4000-mile, month-long journey. It is a line that takes me past vast plains and mountain country sides. They are marked by history, both of the past and the present. The landscapes are sublime in color and still.
Top to Bottom, L-R (all 24”x24” acrylic gel medium, on muslin): “Lake Powell” / “Antelope Canyon” / “Between pink Canyons” / “Grey crater”
Through the broad window of the motorhome we drove, I imagine our human endeavors in these beautiful abandoned communities that we pass. There are towns left bare to the elements.
“Canyon” – 20”x20” acrylic gel medium, on muslin
I frame these through my window of view and vision and give them personal interpretation, recording and responding to that change that comes with age. There are a multitude of blank billboards along these road sides. Nothing left to say. They are all more impressive in their perseverance in these stark and isolated places. There are structures silhouetted in constant changing hues and always in such stillness… these places of New Mexico and Texas.
“Detour” – 12″x16″ gel medium, acrylic on muslin
“Cross Winds” – 12″x16″ gel medium, acrylic on muslin
All the paintings are painted on raw canvas, linen and muslin; sometimes with very little paint. I like to work in untraditional ways and the sewn textiles have taken over the work in this series. The translucency of the canvas shows the structure it is stretched over.
“Palm Springs” – 6″x12″ oil on linen
“Palm Springs 3″ – 12″x12” oil on wood
“Palm Springs 2″ 6″x12” oil on linen
The landscapes lend itself to a more minimal approach. Seeing the landscapes in New Mexico and Big Bend National Park, I felt closer to the work of Agnes Martin and Donald Judd that chose to live and work in Santa Fe and Marfa.
L-R: “Untitled” – 20″x16″ textile assemblage, acrylic gel medium on muslin / “Back Yard”- 12″x12″textile assemblage, acrylic gel medium on muslin
I appreciate the notion of the sublime and look to translate that in my work. They challenge me to consider those things just off center focus and just out of reach.
“Clothesline” – 24″x24″ textile assemblage, acrylic gel medium on muslin
“Construction Flags” – 20″x16” textile assemblage, acrylic gel medium on muslin
The roads ended on the gulf near Galveston, Texas. Buildings built on wooden posts replaced ones that had been lost to hurricane Ike less than a decade ago.
“Construct 2″ – 18″x14” oil on linen.
Throughout, I documented these visuals interpretations in line and watercolor, materials common to me, in response to the experience.
Launch LA will be exhibiting my artwork from this collection from June 22-July 20. For more information about the show, please visit www.launchla.org.
Here’s a snippet from the official exhibition press release. I am extremely proud of this collection and think this describes the work very eloquently:
Somewhere in all that resonant space and distance, one can almost hear the mournful music of the Doors and Jim Morrison’s words: “Can you picture what will be, so limitless and free…”
For more of Tanja’s work www.tanjarector.com
