The Wolf and the Crane

Oil and acrylic paint on masonite
Approx. 27" x 37"

For this piece, I wanted to take a two-dimensional and "break" it. I used one of Aesop's Fables (in particular, the narrowly defined "Moral of the Story") as narrative for the images. I sketched out my composition on masonite board then cut it into pieces with a saw. I glued the pieces back together, but left large haphazard gaps in the surface and created jagged points. I am seeking to present a work that goes beyond surface meanings, which can be misconstrued due to cultural situatedness and individualized notions, and thus into deeper meaning and reflection.

Matthew Whitney is a Seattle-based artist, working primarily in oil paints. He received his BA in Art from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, and exhibits his paintings throughout the Pacific Northwest. Using expressionistic imagery, he works with spiritual and religious themes, stemming from his own beliefs but also encouraging the viewer to create unique connections between the work and their own personal experience.

"My oil paintings are visual meditations on life, creation and faith. I want my work to be a visual language that communicates to the viewer the spiritual and mysterious elements of our reality around us."

To view more of the artist's work, please visit www.matthewwhitney.com.

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