Black is Beautiful, 2021 (sold)
Acrylic on hand dyed canvas, 12" x 12"
25% of proceeds donated to One Marlborough, a local volunteer group of residents who are committed to making Marlborough a place where diversity and inclusion are paramount in our government, educational and justice systems.
Acrylic on hand dyed canvas, 12" x 12"
25% of proceeds donated to One Marlborough, a local volunteer group of residents who are committed to making Marlborough a place where diversity and inclusion are paramount in our government, educational and justice systems.
Art New England, Plein Air Series, 2018
Plein Air with Brian Rego and Art New England @ Bennington College, Vermont
1st Place - deCordova Museum Plein Air Competition, 2018
Acrylic on wood panel
24" x 24" 2019 |
Scollay Square Gallery,
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Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Permanent Collection
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On View: March 5th – May 12th, 2019
"This spring Tower Hill will celebrate heroes from the plant world and encourage viewers to become heroes in their communities. This one-of-a-kind exhibit features portraits by local artists of diverse leaders of horticulture, including marginalized groups, who have championed their causes throughout history."
"This spring Tower Hill will celebrate heroes from the plant world and encourage viewers to become heroes in their communities. This one-of-a-kind exhibit features portraits by local artists of diverse leaders of horticulture, including marginalized groups, who have championed their causes throughout history."
Zara Ciscoe Brough or Princess White Flower, was the Chief of the Nipmuc Native American Tribe for 25 years until 1987. In addition to being an engineer, fashion designer and supervisor of government projects, she was an active member in many organizations including the Grafton Forest Association. Zara worked to preserve the Nipmuc heritage in petitioning for federal recognition and in 2007 her legacy was further preserved through the naming of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services Facility in Westborough. This facility allows at risk youth an opportunity learn about horticulture and globally sustainable practices. This portrait created for Horticultural Heroes serves to preserve Zara’s image and legacy. Few photos of Princess White Flower exist and those that do are black and white or grainy in quality. To interpret Zara’s regalia from her photos with the closest accuracy possible I worked together with Wampanoag tribal member Tia Marie Pocknett, Linguist-in-Residence at Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, to identify the patterns and materials Zara most likely wore.
The background of this painting has patterns made of white paper floral shapes mounted on wood to not only reference Princess White Flower, but to also evoke a feeling of nature. The Nipmuc insignia is placed behind Zara who stands proud just above the viewer. Humanism during the Renaissance contributed to a Western expectation of portraiture that focuses solely on the individual. A Naturalism point of view can depict a human subject to be small or virtually non-existent to mirror the notion of humanity’s minuscule place within the vast cosmos. In comparison to the white flower background and tribal insignia, Zara’s form does not take up the full composition, reflecting a belief in a balance between man and nature.
The background of this painting has patterns made of white paper floral shapes mounted on wood to not only reference Princess White Flower, but to also evoke a feeling of nature. The Nipmuc insignia is placed behind Zara who stands proud just above the viewer. Humanism during the Renaissance contributed to a Western expectation of portraiture that focuses solely on the individual. A Naturalism point of view can depict a human subject to be small or virtually non-existent to mirror the notion of humanity’s minuscule place within the vast cosmos. In comparison to the white flower background and tribal insignia, Zara’s form does not take up the full composition, reflecting a belief in a balance between man and nature.