7777777 #493, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 24” x 36”
YUNO BASWIR
IN PEACE
My painting occurs as a result of the repeated placing of paint on a canvas which has been previously painted with a flat color. I place the paint intuitively and deliberately.
The visual form of the painting is not the most important part to me. Simplicity of forms works better for my purpose. The moments when I am placing paint on the canvas are more important for me.
Painting for me is an act of remembering and praising The Most High. Each dot in my painting represents praise. Each of my paintings is an accumulation and a flow of praise.
Every time I put paint on canvas, I utter a phrase of praise with my lips or silently within my heart. This part of the painting process is more important to me. These actions of placing the paint and uttering praise bring the feeling of peace.
For these paintings in the show, I only use pure white for the dots. This white color represents purity (of heart and mind), cleanliness and peace.
The background color is different for each painting. These varying colors represent different times, atmospheres or conditions.
I hope those looking at my paintings will feel the quality of peace that I have felt in the process of making them.
In the Downstairs Gallery
Clockwise from Top Left: Kadeem Morris, Shawn “Painta” Lindsay, Tara Barr, J.S. Herbert
The 2020 Fellowship Exhibition
At the heart of Studio Gallery is our mission to uplift young and emerging artists. This summer, our annual Fellowship exhibition highlights four emerging artists who infuse everyday observations, traditional practices, and mundane objects with elements of the extraordinary. Shawn “Painta” Lindsey derives inspiration from women’s social media feeds, transforming casual photos into vibrant landscapes that pulse with energy. Painter Tara Barr takes a calculated, nostalgic look at vintage machinery, studying each object with a cheerful and appreciative eye. Photographer Kadeem Morris contrasts an intimate expression of the human body’s capabilities with atmospheric shots of buildings, establishing the cinematic within the mundane. Lastly, ceramicist J.S. Herbert subverts traditional ceramics practices though her illustrative, textured glazing and swooping forms. Through their original artwork, our Fellows represent the spirit of DC’s burgeoning artist community. Studio Gallery strives to support artists in our community while fostering public appreciation for diverse local art, especially during these difficult and uncertain times.
