14bclemmer_embrace_001

14bclemmer_embrace_detail_001

Clemmer , Bliss

Bliss Clemmer

American

1988

MFA - Fine Arts

2014

Paintings

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

oil

Embrace

painting

2014

42.5 x 44.0

Embrace Love, in its truest form, is both ardent and profound. Embrace (fig. 1) is a painting that celebrates the love and foundation my partner, Brandon Green, and I have built in our relationship. This pursuit of personal values began in a transformative period in my young life when I imagined a better personhood, purged of the weaknesses and fear that burdened me from long ago. I am very fortunate to share my life with a person who adheres to the virtues of honesty, optimism, and fortitude. Our relationship is bound by these values, and we have committed to living our lives by these moral standards. The composition of the piece consists of two figures in an intimate embrace, encapsulated by a tub form – the rhythms of the arms form a circular pattern, complemented by the delicate helix contour of the horns. The arms and horns are reminiscent of an interconnecting circuit, winding through the figures like a tight knot. The goat's cheek is pulled towards the figure's chest, signifying a tender exchange between two entities that share unconditional love and trust. The bath tub as a compositional element encompasses both figures, its "U" shape serving the concept of unity and alludes to the foundation that we have created within our relationship. The healing routine of soaking my injured hands and forearms in the hot water after long nights of painting became a ritual associated with the idea of home. In Themes in Contemporary Art, edited by Gill Perry and Paul Wood, the concept of home is described as a, "more personal environment than the idea of a house or a building…[home signifies] an enclosed dwelling or shelter which is familiar, comforting, and secure…a house contains evidence of the intimate relationship between space and time," (Perry and Wood 2004, p. 237). The vessel represents the warmth of sanctuary and the tenderness of our affection as we share our lives together. The act of bathing is also absolving – to purify and cleanse the self of tribulations. This nightly practice became a ritual of ataraxy; the bathtub transformed to a sacred place of healing and meditation as I reflected upon present challenges – physical, personal, and professional. Like my beloved companion, these manifestations of home provide a source of power and clarity in my life. The taxidermy I have chosen for Embrace possesses a sense of melancholic surrender within the man's powerful but gentle, grasp. In the eyes of the ones we love, we are whole – our strengths and weaknesses intact. There are times when we must be strong for one another, and other times where we may succumb to our vulnerabilities. The expression in the eyes and half-mast of the ears resembles a state of trepidation. When one chooses to expose themselves to another, the trust is implicit, devoid of shame and judgment. In moments of weakness or pain, our consorts can stand-in as a source of strength and inspiration. In a partnership, the empowerment must also be reciprocated. Within this moment, the animal is portrayed in a state of susceptibility, yet it is by no means, meager. Two great, spiraling horns protrude from its magnificent head, showcasing the intrinsic power this totem possesses. Like in Bound, these humanizing moments of weakness are transient, and during daunting times, others provide strength as well as muster that of which we harbor within ourselves. The expression of Brandon's portrait in the painting is ethereal and aplomb, exalted in its transfixion within the space. It is intended to express his compassionate nature and the faith he bestows upon me. In many ways, Embrace is a tribute to Brandon's unwavering fortitude as we face the challenges within our present lives. For me, the painting resembles innumerable touching moments of love and compassion, and serves as the most personal piece in the series.

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