Marie Maber

Some of the Horror Vacui Paintings on loan to Monmouth Arts through February 27th – are very small (six inches square) – and are part of a series that began about a year ago. Their bright color and obvious texture came as a direct result of ongoing insomnia. Many of my paintings were begun at about 3:30 in the morning. They were made at a time of the night that was open, free, and uninterrupted until eventually the sun rose – and then regular routines like making coffee, reading the paper, and eating breakfast took precedence.

The paintings became an outlet that was very freeing from the patterns of making several different and “other” types of artworks that I’ve created throughout my life. The process has evolved to the point where healthier living and a second generation of these colorful paintings are now completely painted during the day – and I am once again able to sleep at night!

The base coating of multiple neon colors are often applied with aerosol paint outdoors in my backyard before I leave for work in the morning. The rest of the painting takes place after that paint has dried and the aerosol odor has left the surface. Layers of classic crochet patterns have inspired and even caused the designs of these paintings. Several samples of antique crochet as well as lattice and other “open work matrices” have been used as stencils in this process.

Tight geometric patterns paired with bright, contrasting colors bring vibrancy and excitement into my painted world. These paintings feel very vivid and energetic to me and I enjoy just about everything about them. In order to display the small canvases at the office of Monmouth Arts, they have had to be drilled through their stretcher bars and attached to painted plywood with small screws. This presentation can be viewed as temporary or permanent. They will be priced as groups. If anyone would like to take them home, we can discuss ways to re-install them.