“The Journey” by Michael Frary Surrealism Modernism 1967

Description

Michael Frary 1918-2005. "The Journey"

This work incorporates the technique decalcomania; a technique often employed by surrealists such as Max … more Michael Frary 1918-2005. "The Journey"

This work incorporates the technique decalcomania; a technique often employed by surrealists such as Max Ernst. Frary did a series of decalcomania landscapes with water in this manner. There's a related overview maze like piece titled "Perilous Passage". This piece is titled "The Journey" and it depicts a floating platform with a white and a black figure at center. Combined with the rorshack related quality of the decalcomania process, this subject of a floating barge with a marriage of the light and dark elements of the self at the center creates a suitably psychological and surrealist theme. Other figures are present at the corners of the vessel.
Phthalo green waters deepen the psychological qualities of the deep mauve decalcomania. This has an original label on the back with the title and a date of May 31 67’. It also reads Joplin which likely refers to a show he had in Joplin Missouri in 1967. Frary is most associated with Texas modernism. He was from Santa Monica, California and earlier in his career he worked for the MGM at department where he assisted with backdrop design for films with directors including Orson Welles. He taught at UCLA Los Angeles and University of Texas at Austin among others. Size of masonite board is 28” x 24”. less