'Erasing History' — artworks by John Irwin, May 11 through June 1

5/3/2024

Join us Saturday, May 11, from 6 to 8 PM as we host an opening reception for 'Erasing History' —a solo exhibit of mixed media artworks by Warren,RI artist John Irwin. Enjoy complimentary adult refreshments, meet and chat with the artist, and socialize with other local art enthusiasts. Free and open to the public. True Grit Art Gallery is located at 38 Center St. in Middleboro,MA.

These new paintings were created during and after the chaos of the Covid era. In the last few years an atmosphere of paranoia, mistrust and anxiety has taken hold of humanity and left many of us confused and overwhelmed. Political and social upheaval, here and throughout the world, have seared their way into our collective consciences. Disillusionment with government and media institutions is something we have all felt in one way or another. There are also two major wars raging at the moment. As an artist, and a human being, I can not help but be influenced by these current events and by what I see and hear on social media, television and talk shows. The pictures exhibited here are a reflection of— and sometimes a reaction to— what I have seen and heard.
The paintings themselves are a combination of multiple types of mixed media. Oil and acrylic paint are sometimes mixed with plaster and sawdust and with clippings from magazines embedded into the surface along with scraps of discarded drawings and painted cardboard. Crayon, magic marker and pencil are used to make small, graffiti-like passages. Occasionally I would glue or staple twigs, wildflowers and other three dimensional objects onto the surface of the painting. The result, which admittedly can be slightly overwhelming, is a body of work that is disorienting, dense and emotionally charged.
I would describe these pictures as a kind of stream of consciousness view of our world with a little humor thrown in. As I was working on them I sometimes would get into a creative zone where I temporarily lost track of time. It was difficult to decide when enough was enough.— J.I.

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