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Mary
C. Lee - Reflective Connections and Journeys
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Kerri
Kanelos
March
19th 2006 |
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As
a West Coast native, artist Mary C. Lee attempts
to bridge her memories between California
and her newer home in New England. Although
she has lived and taught high school art in
the Boston area for six years, Lee maintains
strong connections to other places in her
life. Her work includes uses magazine clippings,
old postcards, maps, personal photographs
and paintings to create dream-like representations
of locations throughout the United States.
According to
her artist statement, she works "with
the themes of home and places which have left
a lasting impression on me, many of them connected
with nature and my childhood. I attempt to
connect my childhood home with my current
location."
Now through
March 31st, some of Lee's work can be viewed
at Gallery
181 - a relatively new mill space in Lawrence,
Massachusetts. "Art on the Wall: A Juried
Exhibition" also features pieces from
New England artists Tova Speter, David Bookbinder,
Diane Maroun, and Alya Romeos.
 Mary
C. Lee's strongest work involves her "Connected
Places Series"-an insightful collection
of mixed media collages. In "#11 Midwest
Highway," a burnt orange background focuses
the viewer into a striking combination of
rural silos, tracker trailers, skid marks
and beautiful blue sky. "#9 Yosemite,
Mt. Hood, Bodie" melds the russet tones
of tree trunks, twisted roots and scenes from
Bodie, California-a real life ghost town.
This exhibit
also featured four pieces from the artist's
"Cranberry Theatre" Collection.
These works are mixed media collages housed
in burgundy painted shadow boxes that contain
original paintings as well as found items
such as cigar boxes, stamps, twigs and leaves.
Although all four pieces show the artist's
receptiveness to the subjects of one's space
and home, "How to Get There" and
"Red Tile Roof" are particularly
moving. Two acrylic paintings, "Shell"
and "Home Vessel," are also available
for viewing.
Simply stated,
Mary C. Lee's art is incredibly natural and
introspective; it makes one mull about one's
own previous journeys and comfortable spaces.
I expect to come across more of her artwork
as she gains popularity. Her work can be viewed
at Gallery 181 now through March 31st. The
gallery is open from 10am-5pm, Monday through
Saturday. For more information about her work,
please visit her
website or her
Ahtspot database entry. |
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