For Erin Currier’s upcoming solo show at Blue Rain Gallery, we see the artist’s ability to interweave fine art, activism and cultural storytelling. While utilizing the portrait as her vehicle for communication, Currier also relies on paint and repurposed materials from her many travels to achieve her message—while creating a unique look and feel that is wholly her own.
Santa Magdalena, acrylic and mixed media on panel, 24 x 12"
Garnering inspiration from her tango and swing dance, figure drawing, arts and martial arts communities- and her neighborhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with her recent travels to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Argentina, Currier has put together a beautiful 25-piece body of work for the show From Santa Fe to São Paulo to Sicily: The Sublime. Show attendees will also find travel journals on exhibit, and will be privy to exciting dance performances.
“In these uncertain, rather chaotic and dark times, a creative counter power rooted in imagination is more essential than ever,” the artist shares. “In a world that can feel humorless and hell-bent upon destruction, creative works, expressions of love and shared moments of humor become radical anarchic acts in and of themselves. It is in this spirit that I am hard at work in the studio on this new series of works...”
Diego Maradona, acrylic and mixed media on panel, 24 x 24"
She continues, “My new subjects all embody the sublime: breathtakingly lovely Sicilian saints who were tortured for defying the institutions, family and patriarchy of their times in order to remain true to their inner core; Tangueros rebelling against the status quo and reward system of our modern age to pursue a path of high level tango dancing; and barrio born and raised Diego Maradona with his "Hand of God" goal, who rose to become the greatest football player of all time.”
The Diego Maradona piece showcases a new approach for Currier that incoporates the use of 24k gold leaf. “I layered various pieces of metallic gold and post-consumer waste with actual gold leaf, sanded and rubbed away, then went over it with gold paint and glaze. The effect is sublime and exciting,” Currier explains. She also notes that the gold leaf application is carried out in other pieces as well.
Enjoy an array of Currier's new pieces in person at Blue Rain Gallery’s Santa Fe, New Mexico, location from June 27 through July 8, with an artist reception on the opening day from 5 to 7 p.m. —
Blue Rain Gallery 544 S. Guadalupe Street • Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 954-9902 • www.blueraingallery.com
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