Image: Thomas Chung, Indra’s Net
David Pettibone: Year With a Tree
On view Oct 6, 2017 — Jan 21, 2018
Change is both the subject and the medium of this series by artist David Pettibone. A single tree becomes a constant against which change is measured. Each work is made on location; some over the course of days, some weeks and some months. The project takes the form of numerous watercolor and oil paintings which investigate, in detail, a single tree at the Eagle River Nature Center from May 11, 2016, to May 11, 2017, and how the changing of the seasons affects the tree. These works are composed in all types of weather so that the changing environment — from sunshine to wind, rain and snow — may affect the painter (and thus, the painting) as much as the tree itself. In addition to several small and medium sized works throughout, Pettibone is producing four large-scale paintings of the tree, one for each season.
His paintings depict a world where beautiful and terrible aspects of society intermingle in a dream-like kaleidoscope, creating what he describes as a monstrous sublime. Although he paints in a realistic mode, his images are full of complex metaphor. He says his intention with his work is not to chastise or offend, but to offer a look at the spirit or mood of our times as shown through prevailing ideas and beliefs.