Medium: Etching, aquatint Dimensions: 3 x 2 inches (image) Signature: Signed Artist details: American, 1958 Date finished: 1997 Edition: 15/40
Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
"I find 'Elston Ave.' so interesting because it's a compression of a place into one image. To describe the experience of an entire city street is impossible, but here we see a version of Elston Avenue through the artist's eyes. His priorities, emphasis, symbols, and layers are borderline nonsensical, but full of texture and oddities that speak to his personal interpretation. I would love to take a walk down the avenue of Fitzpatrick's drawings."
Medium: Mezzotint, drypoint Dimensions: 12 x 17 3/4 inches (image) Artist details: American, 1950 Date finished: 2011 Edition: of 26
Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager): "Mary Farrell has created a strong unapologetic, outwardly looking, "in your face" portrait using her mezzotint rocker in a creative and expressive manner. The multiple teeth digging into the plate, forming parallel patterns, as opposed to the rocker's usual technique of covering the whole plate with a velvety looking surface. She has contrasted that deep luxurious surface at the bottom of the image with the stark face peering out."
Medium: Mezzotint, drypoint Dimensions: 5 1/2 x 14 inches (image) Artist details: American, 1950 Date finished: 2010 Edition: of 45
Recommended by Nikki (Art Photographer / Marketing and Exhibitions Specialist):
The volatility and energy behind Farrell’s sepia-inked piece is palpable. The figure’s neck, jugular veins, the collarbones, and jawline read as both vulnerable and strong, simultaneously. The chaos of the branches that cut across her neck break up three-quarters of the image, carrying the intense feelings across the entire scene with its visual movement.
Medium: Etching Dimensions: 5 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches (image) Artist details: American, 1950 Date finished: 2007 Edition: of 30
Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
"Mary Farrell's etchings have an amazing precision and texture that make her imagery so visceral. In Identity, Farrell uses harsh contrast to cover the figure's shoulders and neck in highlights but shroud their face in shadows. I find so much mystery in the figure - the lack of context encourages anonymity but the face seems so specific, the pose is generic but hostile or at least uninviting, a cold but honest portrait. The title further mystifies me as I wonder how well I know this person from Farrell's image, or what really makes up an identity."
