I want to tell you a little bit about one of the exceptional paintings in the gallery. In order to do that, I first need to introduce you to the master behind it.
Kimberly Beck.
Kimberly is an expert in painting birds and wildlife. After earning a degree in English Literature, she pursued studies in drawing and illustration at the California College of Art and Crafts.
"I am personally renewed daily by my experiences in nature. I hope you can feel my passion for the beautiful creatures with whom we share our world and that you are inspired to do what you can to protect their habitats and ensure their presence for generations to come." - Kimberly Beck
"Comings and Goings"
Kimberly Beck
Kimberly's story behind "Comings and Goings" is as follows:
“In The summer of 2022, I explored small coastal towns in Maine. Each morning, while I was in the town of Port Clyde, I woke up to a pink sunrise and the purring of lobster boats preparing for the day. I often walked by a group of domestic chickens coming and going from the grassy yard to their coop.
To me, the blue and white shingles combined with the yellow and red tones of the chickens give the painting a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of unhurried summers when all that was required was to "come and go”, free as you please” (Kimberly Beck, 2022).
"Comings and Goings" won the 2022 Frances Trachok Memorial Award at the American Women Artists’ Expanding Horizon show in Loveland, Colorado.
Every artwork has a unique reason for being created, and resonates differently for each person that views it. Like a photograph, art captures a moment in time. When you stop to really take all of it in, what does it mean to you?
For me, "Comings and Goings" takes me back to my hometown in Africa. In the Congo, chickens are regarded as alarm clocks for many, including myself. The first crow was typically at 5 am, signaling me to wake up in time for mass at 6 am. They would continue throughout the early morning usually stopping around 8am. My experience with chickens wandering freely without a worry, takes me back to a similar childlike state.
This painting evokes a feeling of a natural world untouched by industrialization, which is really quite magical when you think about it.
-Julia
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