This work from the State of Utah’s Fine Art Collection is currently on view at the Utah State Capitol building until March 13th. The work is paint and collage on masonite and paper in the shape of a house and tree. Its odd angles and unique construction make it a little more delicate than a framed painting on canvas. For this reason, the work has not traveled or been exhibited as frequently as other pieces in the State’s collection, offering visitors to the Capitol a unique opportunity to see it in their beautiful 4th floor gallery.
Many symbols are present in Harding’s paintings: double doors on a house are the double standards of the world, vertical lines are symbols of stability created by parents, floating figures are symbols of the child’s imaginary world, bright colors are symbols of the happiness of families, the colored underpainting allowed to show through in areas are symbols of the unexpected happenings in life and the family. Her imagery-filled canvases are due to her desire to please everyone —like a hostess at a family reunion trying to help everyone have a good time. She is the hostess of the canvas.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Visual Arts
