Mister Moseley’s Candy Store (2024) Peinture par Andrew (Ana` Alu) Hollimon

MISTER MOSELEY’s CANDY STORE

As titled the vibrant piece evolved from a common geometric exercise, to a piece dear to my heart and life.

Growing as a toddler to a pre-12 year old black kid in segregated small town Arkansas taught me much. First and foremost was the joy of actual expanses of mid-city wooded acreage across the city. Nothing like Cowboys and Indians in real woods with 10 to 12 boys. Another joy (looking back) was the reality of walking appriximately 2.5 miles from home to the “part-of-town” segregated grade school. (The family move up North at my age 11, I also found segregated schools.. not meant as a social statement; Americana).

The walk took me and a younger brother (18 months younger) along the gravel street of a GrandMother (Dad’s side). Upon spotting us walking across the street via a clay path, she would reach through her kitchen curtain and beckon us over. She would make certain we looked neat for school and hand us each a Nickel. Yup long ago ….the “OG “ life. The nickel was importsnt as it allowed us to buy a candy bar at school. All kids didn’t have a nickel. And, the Candy Store reemerges.

Mister Moseley was an entrepreneur who would secure boxes of candy from a wholesale outlet and deliver to our grade school teachers who in-turn, sold the candy to students before afternoon recess…..for a nickel ($.05). Don’t know why Mom nor Dad never gave us the nickels; but sure GrandMa cherished the early morning visits with her two of her three oldest grand-kids.

The Candy Store piece offers visual endorphin triggers for any viewer who appreciates vibrant colors, shapes and object inter-positioning, and “eye-candy” layering. Appreciation, a desired result even if the viewer isn’t fond of the art style or the artists choices. The piece leverages the color choice relationships of (Bauhaus style) powerful primary colors like Red, yellow and blue with less power colors green, orange and violet. All applied on positioned shapes and objects accented with vision capturing gold color. Colors have been applied over foundational modeling paste details to highlight the background and possibly capture and hold the viewer beyond a passing glance. Illuminary brilliance of gilding leaf facilitated achievement of a personal credo: the hammer strikes the nail that stands out. Within the personal belief that: ART LIVES WHEN IT IS SEEN.

This week I read a statement along the line “ ….everybody won’t like your art”. A true sentiment which pales when the artists holds “personal satisfaction” a far-off first consideration beyond sales. Even though exhibition and sales are totally validating realities.

“MISTER MOSELEY’s CANDY STORE”, 30W x 40H, acrylic, modeling paste, gilding leaf sheets, oil resin gel impasto light shading / Bob Ross Midnight Black oil paint. A piece that exhibits best via off setting ambient light.

Thèmes connexes

VibrantGeometricColorful