'The Season of Singing Has Come'

'The Season of Singing Has Come' by Allison Jones Hunt

About the Exhibit:
The Season of Singing Has Come” is a series of new paintings exploring the intricate relationship between color and the sedimentary nature of memory.
Intrigued by the intimate relationships we form with color throughout our lives, I developed a painting process of repeatedly inverting warm and cool tones. Working with a select palette of colors that form my personal color wheel, I transform greens into pinks and reds, blues into deep magentas, teals into warm oranges, and back again in a meditative process, layering paint on canvas dozens of times.

The depth created by this interplay evokes natural imagery, from blossoming flowers and vibrant fall foliage to tranquil lily ponds, fiery sunsets, and monumental ripe fruit. The rhythmic patterns of brushstrokes become a recurring motif, recalling the cyclical nature of time and the seasons.
By deliberately reiterating the same composition, capturing the dance between warm and cool hues, earlier layers inevitably reverberate. The paintings contain a visual echo, much like layers of memory shape our lives, and the repetition of collective stories shape our rituals. Hidden layers of paint inform the final image, just as our past experiences (though obscured by the present) continue to influence who we are, adding depth and complexity to our personal narratives and shared identity.

The collection title, "The Season of Singing Has Come,” as well as the titles of each painting in the collection, comes from the Jewish biblical text Shir HaShirim, known in English as the Song of Songs or the Song of Solomon. The poetry in Song of Songs layers natural imagery and erotic conversation to create a lasting celebration of intimate love, and serves as an allegory of the love between the human and the divine. In the collection’s paintings, the warm and cool colors are twinned voices, in dialogue much like the Song of Song’s two lovers.
Through the depths of color and its powerful connection to memory, I aim to resonate with each viewer's own personal journey, inviting contemplation and reflection on the passage of time, the enduring impact of our past experiences – both personal and collective – and the potential for renewal and hope.

About the Artist:
Allison Jones Hunt is a Jewish abstract painter based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her vibrant work delves into the intricate relationship between color, time, and memory. In 2023, Allison was honored as a recipient of Harwood Art Center's Emerging Artists of New Mexico award. A graduate of Reed College, her work has been exhibited throughout the Southwest and Pacific Northwest.
In both her art and her life, Allison is committed to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the art world. Living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and congenital hip dysplasia, her creative practice has become an embodied act of somatic processing and healing. This journey with a dynamic disability has fueled her exploration of innovative, adaptive approaches to painting. Through her art, Allison demonstrates that creativity can transcend physical limitations, serving as a powerful tool for self-expression, resilience, and connection in a disconnected world. Her work stands as a testament that art can meet us where we are, physically and emotionally

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