INSPIRATIONS + OBSERVATIONS

YESTERDAY MARILYN was the third painting in my series of pop inspired work. Being heavily influenced by Andy Warhol, I thought it was time to go back and rediscover my passions for the work. In flipping through a standard Pop Art book, I found myself stuck on Andy's portrait of Marilyn. Curious at the power of art and its ability to marry these two icons into our working memories forever-- I questioned Andy's interest in Marilyn as a subject, was it in her life or in her death?  Consequently, thoughts on greatness, repetition, consumption, and influence, etc. started bubbling to the surface and so I knew I had to proceed with a series of work. But most importantly, it is my point of view that it is our responsibility to examine our Visual Culture-- instead of just consuming 'it' that drives my passion throughout the series. 

YESTERDAY MARILYN sets the stage for the visual narrative to take place. Using a captured moment, where baby Marilyn ironically appears to have a carefree existence. The tiny portraits are intended to represent a progression of  time, as well as, as a way I can challenge the viewer to walk closer to the work, discovering new, unexpected detail. With a continued reference the Pop Art Movement-- the time where their lives happen to intersect-- YESTERDAY MARILYN became the time to incorporate the origin of my interest in Marilyn. You will notice that Andy's portrait is tucked into her childhood shadow. Scale and placement became important decisions. Not wanting the canonized portrait to steal the show and maximizing any opportunity for meaning making, placing the portrait in the shadow gave way for a playful pun on 'foreshadow'.