jared small

the germane



16 apr – 18 may 2013

opening fri 19 apr, 6-8pm

artist talk sat 27 apr, 11am



The Germane is the exhibition of new paintings and drawings by Memphis native Jared Small. In this exhibition, his third solo show at David Lusk Gallery, Small tells the stories of an imaginary community through his realistically painted portraits and architectural images.



Small works in a style similar to magical realism. A distinctly rendered image (a house or an individual) is at the center of each painting, while the foreground and background painting dissolves into expressive, abstract swaths and drips of color. Through this method Small is able to achieve an image caught in a dream-like state. He chooses images that everyone recognizes (be is a simple shotgun house or a young woman in a chair) then he immortalizes it with hyper-realistic details and colorations.



Says Small: “Whenever I look at homes and buildings, I wonder who lives there or what goes on in there. I imagine the little girl in Wildflower is sitting inside the house called Gray Rose. I like the idea of showing how this house has beautiful flowers growing on the outside that require great care to maintain, but inside there’s this little girl, a beautiful wild flower.”



The keynote of the show is the life-sized painting True Blues that depicts the hazy life and thoughts of an under-recognized blues band. “The painting, “ as Small sees it, “is an allegory about the real meaning of the blues. It’s the story of life, with its highs and lows. There are many elements throughout the painting that add to the narrative – just like the blues.”



Currently a monumental allegorical painting by Small is on view at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York City. Other pieces have made their ways into museum shows, public collections and homes across our region and beyond.



David Lusk Gallery is located in Laurelwood between Perkins Extended and Grove Park. Gallery hours are Tu-Fri 10-5:30, and Sa 11-4. For further information or visuals, contact David Lusk at 901-767-3800 or david@davidluskgallery.com.