MIT The Dean's Gallery

. . .
 
Susan Livada:
On the Table

May 13, 1999 - June 17, 1999

Curated by Michelle Fiorenza



Paintings seen in this exhibit are from two on-going still life series: "Large Fruit" and "Tablescapes," both of which reflect my personal outlook on life. Coming from a large family of origin and being the mother of four, I've always had strong nurturing instincts and feelings of family, which can be seen in the homey "Tablescapes" series. Not only do these paintings evoke sensations of coziness and comfort, but also many of the dishes and tablecloths are from my parents and grandparents. The "Large Fruit" series expresses my feelings of being connected to nature and earth. This connection can be seen in two aspects of these works: (1) the fruit is given human qualities such as friendship, femininity, family, and humor, and (2) the fruit, as a symbol of nature, is glorified by scale and dynamic composition, often seeming to burst from the confines of the canvas.

In a constant battle to show the still life objects but avoid being too literal and photographic, I like to allow the viewer to see the paint and brushmarks. My favorite technique is to paint over one of my previous paintings. I love struggling with the initial chaos and seeing the new image slowly come into focus. Sometimes I let small pieces of the first painting poke through with serendipitous bits of color. I enjoy being playful with my colors and try to achieve a luminous quality in my work.

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