Geri deGruy's blog of art, musings, and inspiration

Still Life with Love Birds (embroidery thread, puffy paint, scrapbook paper, poured plastic, wallpaper, canvas)

I have had trouble deciding whether to post this blog. 

"Violent Delights" is an exhibition of the art of Ann Wood. Her work IS violent yet clothed in a certain kind of "prettiness." I am shocked and repelled by her work yet interested in her techniques.

Texas artist Ann Wood has always been drawn to large old paintings of animals kiiled in the hunt. As she says, she transforms this theme into a more "feminine" image, "like a layered supercake." The backgrounds of these large works look almost like they are frosted. This effect is created with a method of pouring liquid plastic onto the canvas. It creates a fanciful tableau. The figures are thickly embroidered. They are often paired, and they are either dead or dying.

Wood describes her work as the tension between love and hate, between attraction and repulsion. 

What do you think?