Wet Crossing

Daten.d.

MediumAcrylic o nwood panel

DimensionsImage Size: 24 × 24 in. (61 × 61 cm)

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineGift of the artist, 2021

Object numberUAC6740

DescriptionFran Wolok is a Jewish Detroit artist. She received her B.F.A. with a focus in Industrial Design from Wayne State University. She is also skilled in photography, art education, studio art, and murals. Wolok is known for her acrylic landscape paintings; some of them appear more realistic, while in others she employs a more abstract approach. She attributes her interest in painting to being surrounded by a family of artists.

In the case of Wet Crossing, Wolok composes an abstract rendering of a landscape. She incorporates several different shades of blue and green, and the darker shades emphasize the vibrant, yellow portions of the painting. Although the work is more abstract, the colors, paired with the title, communicate that water is the focus of the scene. Wolok does not isolate the colors from each other, but rather they intermingle through her expressive brush strokes. The brush strokes spiral at the top of the work and are perhaps meant to represent trees and bushes. The brush strokes in the middle portion sail across the horizon to indicate a body of water. Perhaps the yellow shapes in the water are meant to be coral or a variation of an underwater plant. The thin, vertical lines that trickle down the landscape cross into the horizontal brush strokes of the water, creating an appearance reminiscent of light traveling through glass. To add, this interaction between the vertical and horizontal brush strokes coincides with the title of the painting.

Wolok juxtaposes the expressive, unpredictable brush strokes with a cohesive color scheme. This in turn expresses the dynamic character of nature and how different elements interact with each other. There are moments when the water and the trees are at peace, and there are other times when the wind rustles the leaves the of the trees and quickens the pace of the stream. Wolok’s diverse brush strokes and blending of colors communicates that while nature consists of numerous different elements, they come together in harmony.

Written by Angela Athnasios

Sources: Suzanne Chessler, "Local Jewish Artists Shine at BBAC Mixed Media Exhibit." The Detroit Jewish News, 23 February 2021, https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-wolok-b1133a8, franwolok.com.

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