Alison McGinty
Through my art, I examine what it means to be alive in our contemporary world. My paintings explore socio-political themes, climate change, human relationships with nature, and, ultimately, the sacredness of all life. For me, creating these images is a way to be with existential and planetary concerns, and to highlight the beauty and magic of the world in the midst of unexplainable and often horrific suffering. In doing so, I seek to put into practice Ram Dass’s call to “keep your heart open in hell.” My work often draws on images from art history and is influenced by surrealism. It is inspired by dream-like expressions of lived experiences, which evolve through the process of painting. I incorporate mixed media and collage to add detail and depth. My paintings tell stories; they hold nuance and multifaceted meanings. They are an invitation to the viewer to pause and contemplate their own relationship with these existential themes.