Oh Blue
“Oh Blue” is a series of unassuming, somewhat kitschy, small sculptures with a friendly but provocative presence.
The sculptures are made from paper, polymer mediums, and recycled objects and are universally white with blue words and symbols. The blue honors the blue glazes of porcelain as well as hinting at political positions, while the painted symbols, including rats, guns, swords, stars, eagles, and dragons, represent the US and other countries in a mostly friendly manner but with an occasional bite.
There is a lot going on here with the works touching on many topics. It is as if one were scrolling through the cacophony of news on their phone or posting on Twitter with not much thought. However, the series has a unifying factor in the pairing of words with their letters rearranged. The relationships of the pairs may be obvious or intentionally unclear adding both doubt and levity to a situation that has too much news, some of which is bad, making this playful work a bit unsettling.
Best Bets
Watercolor and Acrylic on Paper
18" X 12"
In this time of mean tweets (or X’s), it is entertaining to rearrange the letters in four-letter words. It keeps the mind busy and adds some levity to our situation. It allows one to reflect on the power of words rather than bopping other people on the head.
The series “Oh Blue” is both silly and provocative. It consists of small papier-mâché´ sculptures painted white with rearranged words and suitable images: rats, faces, guns, stars all painted in blue. It makes a respectful nod to Chinese porcelain on which blue designs were painted as early as 1300. By the way, the Chinese got the blue pigment from Iran, well, Persia.
People get nervous when China and Iran are mentioned, and blue has taken on a political meaning. But not to worry. As usual, no meanness nor dogmatism is intended. You can interpret the work as you wish and maybe discuss it in a friendly way.