Edward G. Duffy's
Artist
Barbara Greene Mann
(American, 1948 - 2018)
Date1981
MediumWatercolor
DimensionsImage Size: 13 1/2 × 19 1/4 in. (34.3 × 48.9 cm)
Frame Size: 21 1/4 × 27 1/4 in. (54 × 69.2 cm)
ClassificationsDrawing
Credit LineGift of James Pearson Duffy, 1992
Object numberUAC1324
DescriptionIn what is arguably the busiest composition in her Duffy and Company series, Barbara Greene’s “Edward G. Duffy’s” captures the atmosphere of boundaryless warehouse/art gallery environment where the two functions flow in and out of each other seamlessly. Though the perspective in this work is appears to be the most straightforward in the series, upon further inspection a chaotic point of view unfolds itself as the viewer bears witness to the factory from a cacophony of juxtaposing angles. In “Edward G. Duffy’s”, distinguishing the works of art from the machines utilized in the daily life of the factory is more difficult than in “Duffy’s” or “Mr. Duffy’s”. But this visual confusion may be purposeful as works were displayed “anywhere and everywhere” in the warehouse, creating an artistic hide and seek, echoed in the topsy-turvy composition of Greene’s work. Shades of blue dominate the color pallette in “Edward G. Duffy’s”, but pops of color present themselves as a welcome surprise reflecting the role of the Cass Corridor art in the warehouse.Detroit native Barbara Greene, now Barbara Greene Mann graduated with a B.A. in 1972 and subsequent M.A. from Wayne State University in 1974 (other sources cite her graduation date as 1973). She continued to create and show her work in the Detroit area into the 1980s when she moved to Philadelphia, enrolling the Occupational Therapy program at Thomas Jefferson University. Barbara pursed her OT career in both Florida and Canada into the early 2000s. She is currently living in Toronto, continuing to create her characteristically whimsical works.
Written by Kat Goffnett
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