THE REACH

Mar 11, 2025

In a vast chamber lined with square concrete panels, a woman grips an iron ring to hang suspended in a sideways T. A taut chain extends from the ring on a diagonal down to another metal loop where she anchors her bare feet. Gravity tugs on her fiery orange hair as she reaches down to touch a broad band of mist. The hood of her loose white top spills down as do both sleeves, one bunching at the shoulder to expose her arm—her torso prevents it from falling farther—while unobstructed the other sleeve billows loosely. There is some curvature to the wall behind her, which tapers inward at the top. Boards are tacked in staggered lines extending ladder-like up the wall. A grungy tactile delight, the place looks weathered with tattered cloth draping the concrete in places. A variety of openings are covered by rusty grates or metal plates. — THE REACH (1999), Acrylic on Canvas - 48" x 30"

Almost a Lumen painting, in which figures are trying to work their way out of enclosed spaces and get into the light.

I had to use a model for this one and it was quite difficult for her to take this pose and hold it long enough to capture the gesture. I had to have a third person hold her from rotating out of perspective.

The chains are still hanging in the middle of my studio, but the other paintings I intended to follow this one are still in my head waiting to come out.

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