Cory Willingham van der Does: August 2010

F5: Painting the Psychological Impact of Extreme Weather

For my thesis (F5: Painting the Psychological Impact of Extreme Weather) I employ the depiction of extreme weather events such as tornados, hurricanes, and dust storms in a narrative format to move the viewer to the unsettling space that lies between basic instinct and self-awareness. Why and how do we react to such severe and life-threatening storms? These paintings work to define and contain these psychological states within a single moment and shed light on the complexity of human motives and the way we relate to the world around us.

Employing painting techniques such as abstraction, collage, and experimental surface treatments, I explore new possibilities within the narrative tradition. I combine images from sources such as meteorological surveys, psychology textbooks, scientific journals and websites, and personal photographs to create highly textured paintings deeply layered with meaning. By exploiting the unique properties of oils, acrylics, and charcoals, and by embedding within the paint natural materials such as pine needles, rocks, twigs, sand, and moss, and incorporating man-made common household construction materials such as spackle and bead-board panelling, the forms within the compositions and the surface of the paintings become interdependent in the translation of the message.

If you are interested in additional information about this body of work or my thesis, please don't hesitate to email me!

Friday, August 27, 2010

UPCOMING EXHIBIT: September 1 - September 30, 2010

I invite you to join me at Art Walk on September 1, 2010 for the opening of my exhibit "Updraft," a selection of my most recent, large-scale paintings depicting natural forces, extreme weather, and urban decay. The second and third floors of the Main Branch (Downtown) Jacksonville Public Library (on Hemming Plaza, next door to the Museum of Contemporary Art) will feature over 20 of my acrylic, oil, and highly textured works. Additionally, I'm thrilled to be unveiling five new large-scale paintings I am very excited about! Art Walk is from 5:00-9:00 on Wednesday, September 1, but in case you cannot make it to the opening night, the works will remain on display for the entire month of September.