The magic of sunrise on Mardi Gras morning among a crowd of people who have meticulously worked on fabulous unique costumes to celebrate in.
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From the 2023 Series 'OVERFLOW: Ecstatic encounters in the streets of New Orleans'
New oil paintings by Stephanie Reed explore immanence* through the experience of both sublime and quirky street traditions.
*Immanence: noun; The state of being inherent or exclusively existing within something.
People in New Orleans know that the city’s spirit is difficult to describe to those who have not experienced it on the ground, and we often land on the fact that its character is that of its people – who come together to express themselves in unique and beautiful ways. Many of the paintings in this body of work are at a large, almost life-sized scale that puts the viewer in the mix for a sense of “being there” in the flow of individuals who collectively shape the distinct magic of this place.
This show follows Reed’s previous one at Gallery 600 titled ‘The World without Us’– a contemplative series primarily of river scenes devoid of figures – which reflected the isolated landscape of 2020-2022. ‘OVERFLOW’ celebrates the end of social dormancy imposed by the pandemic, with the re-blooming of a rich and vibrant culture.
