Sea of Made and Broken Promises
Artist
Gilda Snowden
(American, 1954-2014)
Datec. 2005
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Dimensions60 × 48 in. (152.4 × 121.9 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineGift of Gilda Snowden Estate, 2017
Object numberUAC6511
Description“Sea of Made and Broken Promises” is a painting from a series titled Bright Stars at Night. This colorful, layered, brilliant work reflects Snowden’s experiences in Detroit, her home. In this work she skillfully demonstrates her ability to infuse her emotions and impressions of the city into a vibrant, abstract, and chaotic painting; earning her work the label of “urban expressionism.” The seemingly infinite dimensions of color and shape are overwhelming at first glance, yet they clearly record and map out her everyday, simple interactions with the city. The starry lights of downtown, stepping over cracks in the sidewalk, and the flower gardens that remain in abandoned lots are all represented in one frame. Each concept is meticulously worked as each layer of everyday life is applied to the canvas. The companion piece titled “Bright Stars at Night” is indicative of Snowden’s sensitivity to simultaneous metaphysical and physical approaches to her daily surroundings; while both works were done in the style described above and appear very similar, one is titled as a literal observation of Detroit and the other is an emotional, metaphorical reflection of “made and broken promises.” Gilda Snowden, a prominent Detroit artist, received a BFA and MFA from Wayne State University. From 1985 until her early death, she was a Professor of Fine Arts at the College for Creative Studies and in 2009 she was awarded the prestigious Kresge Artist Fellowship. This work was donated by the estate of Gilda Snowden.
Fiorucci
3/22/18
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