Cathleen Clarke Evokes the Sublime of Rural Nostalgia in ‘Morning Star’

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The Night Gallery is about to debut “Morning Star,” an individual exhibition by Cathleen Clarke who resides in Brooklyn. This latest collection of oil and acrylic paintings draws inspiration from her childhood memories and family photos taken in rural Illinois, resulting in a profound contemplation on the themes of domesticity and the natural world.

As I journey through the captivating worlds crafted by “Morning Star,” I find myself immersed in the multifaceted aspects of rural life. From vibrant, golden fields bathed in sunlight to serene, silver-lit coyote meetings under the moon, there’s a blurred line between day and night, reality and illusion. Clarke’s characters, like a teal horse and rider, seem to merge into one another, their forms fluidly intertwining with the furniture they inhabit, creating an eerie sense of doubled identities with faces that appear twice.

Each instance when a memory becomes less distinct, the overall structure also weakens. This ongoing process of erasing the canvas’ surface symbolically captures the essence and void that are inherent in any act of recollection, as the gallery explained. Every time we ponder on the past and the things no longer with us, our memories subtly change.

Just as twilight or sunrise, these moments dwell in a luxurious realm of transition. Instead of allowing these recollections to slip into the shadows of forgetfulness, Clarke captures and bewitches them with the irresistible allure of returning home.

Morning Star will be on view starting January 18, 2025.

Night Gallery
2276 E. 16th Street,
Los Angeles, California 90021

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2025-01-15 19:56