Description
ARTIST STATEMENT
This painting was created during the year I was undergoing treatment for breast cancer (winter of 2024-age 72). I decided to paint portraits of friends who came to visit, and eventually I turned the mirror on myself to create a self-portrait.
The painting experience was difficult, as I was struggling with the side effects of chemotherapy. This portrait is certainly not flattering, yet the act of painting it somehow helped validate my existence. The angled mirror and resulting distortions reflect the emotions and disorientation of that time.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mary Barnes-Gingrich, born in Chicago and a longtime resident of Wilmette, Illinois, has been inspired by art and music throughout her life.
In 1998, Mary was selected as one of the featured artists in The Chicago Art Scene, a book by Ivy Sundell highlighting a diverse group of Chicago artists. Her work was also included in Celebrating the Wild Places of Door County (2001), reflecting her deep appreciation for the natural world.
Working in both painting and printmaking, Mary frequently draws inspiration from nature and music. Her artwork has been exhibited in a variety of venues and is represented in private collections throughout the United States, England, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Germany, as well as in the corporate collections of Amoco and Fel-Pro.
Mary’s current work is available at Firemouth Pottery & Gallery in Boulder Junction, and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. She has taught art classes through the Art Center of highland Park since 2018.
© Mary Gingrich