Hands across time & space
Acrylic on canvas 36x44 with twenty 6x6 mounted canvases
The painting evolves
My painting features hands, some famous, political, historical, socially popular or important in some way.
First and most important, the largest hands (one black and one white) forming the heart (love) gesture are my hope for national harmony and love.
Here is my statement regarding my painting...
Hands ... an idea of how hand gestures are so much a part of life. There are 30+ hands, let me tell you about them.
Largest hands depicted are one black and one white hand forming the heart (Love) hand gesture.
Next hands of note are the hand of Adam being touched by the hand of God depicted in The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512).
1. Praying Hands by Albrecht Dürer is a famous ink and pencil drawing (14th century).
2. Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima (iconic photograph), Marine Corps War Memorial (1954).
3. Hillary Clinton said "What difference at this point does it make?" re: Benghazi.
4. Statue of Liberty her hand holding the torch
5. Winston Churchill's famous V for Victory during World War II.
6. Bill Clinton claimed, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
7. Adolf Hitler's Nazi salute.
8. Richard Nixon wrote "I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States."
9. Liberty Leading The People (iconic painting), by Delacroix
10. Rosie the Riveter poster - "We Can Do It!" by J. Howard Miller.
11. Thumbs Up. Caesar would determine destiny of the losing gladiator.
Thumbs up, means he lives, thumbs down means he should die.
12. "Uncle Sam wants you" poster by James Montgomery Flagg, illustrator/model 1916.
13. The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, cast in 1904.
14. String on finger meant to remind the person of something important. Don't forget.
15. Selfie. Very common using cell phone to take picture of yourself.
16. "Live long and prosper" - Mr. Spock's Vulcan salute from Star Trek series.
17. The Lincoln Memorial in honor of the 16th President of the United States. 1920
18. Asking for a handout holding homeless sign.
19. Neo's choice (Matrix) "You take the blue pill: the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill: you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
20. Loser hand gesture.
Eight hidden paintings on the side
The twenty 6x6 canvases are arranged four rows, five columns mounted. On the sides in each row (five parts), I painted another hand related painting.
For example, the right side of the bottom row I painted Saturday Evening Post cover of Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter (1943). And the row above that, I painted Michael Jackson's gloved hand. To view these paintings requires the viewer to stand to the right (or left) of painting to see the five parts.
There are eight paintings in total painted on the sides left and right of the canvas. The upper and lower sides are painted black and may have stars painted there.
Stacked paintings to paint the gallery wrap sides. Hidden
Right side paintings
First row from top - Neo flipping off Agent Smith and demanding his phone call - Matrix
Second row from top - Self portrait "Everything is OKAY".
Third row from top - Michael Jackson's famous gloved hand.
Bottom row - Rosie the Riveter
Left side paintings
First row from top - "Shhhh" finger to lips (quiet please)
Second row from top - Black Power Protest at the 1968 Olympics
Third row from top - Holding hands.
Bottom row - Norman Rockwell's Boy Scout Salute (1942)