Black & Whites with a Bit of Color
jm-ART
349 West Commercial St., Ste 1020
Nov 4, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

I am known for my use of color, so walking all the way to Black and White is quite the departure for me! But I have totally enjoyed creating these paintings in just black, white and gray acrylic although a touch of color did sneak in sometimes! There will be a few of my B&W photographs in this exhibit too.

I love old photos and sometimes wish I had lived in America in the 1880’s to the 1920’s. What a time to be alive! So much changed then! In 1895 the average well-to-do family had an annual income of $3000, in today’s dollars. They had no indoor plumbing, no phones, no electricity and no car. About half of all American children lived in poverty: most teens did not attend school, instead working in factories or fields. Industrial expansion and population growth radically changed the face of America’s cities. The American Industrial Revolution transformed the nation from a scattering of isolated communities into an economic and industrial giant, in part due to the country’s wealth of natural resources. However, noise, traffic jams, slums, air pollution, and sanitation besides general health problems, became commonplace also.

During the Progressive Era In the late 1800’s to the early 1900s, the United States entered an overall period of peace, prosperity, and progress. In the nation’s growing cities, factory output grew, small businesses flourished, and incomes rose. Just think, the British Perforated Paper Company debuts toilet paper! Kansas becomes the first US state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. Barnum & Bailey’s “Greatest Show on Earth” opens in Madison Square Garden. The automobile had transformed the lives of people living everywhere in the United States.

So, I have focused on the past a bit in this exhibit, but I feel like I’ve looked to the future also. Black and White is classic, and IN right now! I’ve also focused on people, ladies in particular. Obviously my exploration of the female side of self has influenced me too. I hope it’s a show you won’t forget!

For more information, hours, and directions visit my website.