Lynn Criswell • The Perils of Morality
•••Lynn Criswell•••
The Perils of Morality
click to view available work
For the past twenty years, Lynn Criswell’s work has been about making sense of the past, reconciling it with the present, and recognizing where the notion of choice has been illusory, particularly for women. Her hammered sheet lead paintings focus on gender stereotyping and childhood. Images of descriptive fragmented text and human figures float on the wooden veneer surface like dramatic tableaux. A single word and a child’s expression -whether a smile or a scream – compete for the viewer’s attention. If Criswell’s work is often inspired by her own childhood’s memories, her latest work also refers to her youthful exposure to the moral principles of Aesop’s fables where animals take on human characteristics to impart lessons of the beauty of being wise, honest, forgiving and kind. These fables remain a popular choice for moral education of children today throughout the world. In a similar vein, Criswell’s work poses, defines, and celebrates human acts in an invented territory cohabitated by specimens of flora, fauna and northern California native birds. Criswell moves them along a journey through an obviously staged narrative, giving them the space to unfurl their peculiar yet familiar roles. Speechless figures in silhouette with mouths wide open inhabit spaces along with over-sized birds, birdcages and anthropomorphic creatures. Observations and questions pondering, for example, “why didn’t they…?”, “you would think…”, toy with the implications that children often say the wrong thing at the wrong time while also celebrating the straightforward communication of animals, birds and lizards. This solo show is the first occasion to bring together Criswell’s sculptures paintings and drawings and is Lynn Criswell’s second solo show with LIMN Gallery.
The Perils of Morality
click to view available work
For the past twenty years, Lynn Criswell’s work has been about making sense of the past, reconciling it with the present, and recognizing where the notion of choice has been illusory, particularly for women. Her hammered sheet lead paintings focus on gender stereotyping and childhood. Images of descriptive fragmented text and human figures float on the wooden veneer surface like dramatic tableaux. A single word and a child’s expression -whether a smile or a scream – compete for the viewer’s attention. If Criswell’s work is often inspired by her own childhood’s memories, her latest work also refers to her youthful exposure to the moral principles of Aesop’s fables where animals take on human characteristics to impart lessons of the beauty of being wise, honest, forgiving and kind. These fables remain a popular choice for moral education of children today throughout the world. In a similar vein, Criswell’s work poses, defines, and celebrates human acts in an invented territory cohabitated by specimens of flora, fauna and northern California native birds. Criswell moves them along a journey through an obviously staged narrative, giving them the space to unfurl their peculiar yet familiar roles. Speechless figures in silhouette with mouths wide open inhabit spaces along with over-sized birds, birdcages and anthropomorphic creatures. Observations and questions pondering, for example, “why didn’t they…?”, “you would think…”, toy with the implications that children often say the wrong thing at the wrong time while also celebrating the straightforward communication of animals, birds and lizards. This solo show is the first occasion to bring together Criswell’s sculptures paintings and drawings and is Lynn Criswell’s second solo show with LIMN Gallery.
