Grounding Chaos
Landscapes and the natural world have always served as the foundation for Amy Stewart’s art, and several of her recent pieces extend that fascination, deconstructing the world around her as she experiences grief. This past year has been difficult for so many, as we suffer our own personal losses and respond to distressing national and global events. The practice of painting—brush strokes, motion and play on the canvas, the control of paint—helps Stewart process pain and recognize glimpses of hope.
Stewart’s paintings express those intermingled experiences of despair and recovery. The paint and shapes on the canvas convey chaotic movement—the swell of feeling beneath a surge of tragedies. As a counterbalance, the strong lines and geometrical shapes hold steady the turbulence of our lives. They remind us of beauty and goodness, and that reminder can help us to regain control of our grief, and to find moments of happiness again.