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| featured artist Sarah Williams 'Population 4,769' |
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| When you think of a small town, you might think of the movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ or maybe Norman Rockwell paintings. Sarah Williams sees a more realistic, dark world in the small town. Her paintings have a sense of impending drama that the viewer is about to witness. |
| Her night paintings, in particular, capture old concrete block buildings, metal sheds, and mysterious fields of tire tracks. The overpowering undertones of desolation are heightened by depictions of unnatural lighting, disrepair of the buildings, and possible evidence of recent human activity. The potential narrative could lead the view to an oasis or a tragic end. You feel uncomfortable being in her small town at night, but your comfort level will not lift in her day scenes. |
| Sarah depicts her town in the depth of the winter snow. Both snow and night act as barriers to normal human activities and so the snow scenes mange to hold the same amount of weighty drama as the night scenes. The snow paintings show homes and garages with some of the work making reference to the holidays. Tire tracks reappear in these works as well, but they remind the viewer of the dangers created from driving in the ice and snow. |
| In Williams’ show at the McMurtrey Gallery in Houston, one daytime painting is given a little more punch of dread by reminding us that winter is also deer season. This element of death, added to the feeling of isolation is why Williams’ work is so powerful. She breaks down the idyllic myth of living in a small town by showing us the dark, dead, and the remote side of rural life. |
| Sarah Williams’ show ‘Population 4769’ will be up January 16th through February 13th at the McMurtrey Gallery. mcmurtreygallery.com. |
| Kirksville 2009 - oil on board - 18" x 30" |
| Callio 2009 - oil on board - 30" x 30" |
| Christmas Lights 2009 - 24' x 24" |
| Argyle 2009 - oil on board - 24" x 24" |
| Kimber Modern Discover a new way to stay in Austin |
