Paintings by Mary Ann Southworth

Paintings by Mary Ann Southworth
June 8 through July 9
Reception Friday June 24 – 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Jansma Gallery at NCCA-Artsplace,
13 E. Main St., Fremont, 231-924-4022.

Mary Ann was born in rural Michigan and raised on a cash crop farm. Her family grew navy beans, wheat, corn, oats and alfalfa. Mary Ann enjoyed farm life. She liked to be outside riding her horse, doing chores or working in the fields. Winter days were often spent in the farm shop. Her father, a gifted builder, taught Mary Ann how to weld and work with wood. He would often take a piece of chalk and draw out plans on the cement floor. This is where Mary Ann’s love for making things began. She received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After graduating from college Mary Ann made her way back to the farm where she grew up. She lives there now with her husband, son, two horses, one dog and many cats.

Her recent work is inspired by her mothers love for nature, stones in particular; and artist George Innes. “My mom liked to collect stones. She found them in the fields or in her flower beds. After washing them, depending on their size and color, she would display them on tabletops an windowsills. As she got older and less sure on her feet I would bring her stones that I had found. When I think about it now I see that the stones changed as they passed through her hands. They mean several things to me now: warmth, an exchange, a connection between two people, a selection of one out of many, a gift given and received.” These emotional connections seem to be reflected in many of her paintings. “Recently, I saw an Inness landscape at the GRAM. I was deeply moved by the power the painting had to stir such strong emotions in me. Was it that I was looking at a tree or was I looking at how Inness felt when he saw the tree? I think this is what I find so exciting about painting. I don’t have to describe in words what I can express through an image. Sometimes I use animals as guides to lead me into this other world free from verbal description.” This collection of paintings combines these themes of nature, family, and reflection using acrylic and mixed media on wood.