M
AUNEY almost always works in series, and the
most prodigious to date is her “Empty Porch” set,
WA L K which depicts abandoned, dilapidated homes
with large, Southern-style sitting porches.
Though each one is unique, they share a
theme of abandonment and often suggest
poverty, struggle, and disappointment. These quiet, subtle images
prompt the viewer to consider the people who used to live in these
now-abandoned spaces. But they also faithfully retain the beautiful
details of early-American architecture and are frequently flanked by
bright, hopeful skylines.
Empty Porch #31, 10 x10 inches, watercolor and gouache on
paper.
The 40-plus paintings in this group have become a sort of sig-nature
for Mauney, and she has found that many people relate to
them.
“They seem to speak to people, especially in the South,” she says.
“Most of the houses are in the middle of nowhere and are aban-doned,
and have been for quite a long time. You see a broken win-dow
and a sagging porch and you’re reminded that people used to
live there; you think about the families.”
Mauney’s compassion for the variety and depth of humanity has
inspired a moving and beautifully somber body of work. Her skill in
watercolor and her artistic eye blend seamlessly with an impressive
insight into human thought and emotion. Viewers may not experi-ence
unbridled joy in her work, but are guaranteed meaningful
reflection that likely will expand their understanding of human vari-ety
and difference.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com
59
WBM
Eclipse Artisan
Boutique
More than 100 local and
regional artisans:
203 Racine Drive,
910-799-9883,
EclipseArtisanBoutique.com
Handmade, handbound
metal books
with eco-dyed pages,
various styles, $225
For Sale By Owner
Golden Gallery
Cotton Exchange
311 North Front Street,
910-762-4651,
www.thegoldengallery.com
“Cardinal Couple”
Original and giclee prints
by Mary Ellen Golden
Large, original, framed Dominican/Haitian painting circa 1997.
42 inches by 31 inches.
Can be inspected by appointment only,
at 7232 Wrightsville Avenue, Ste. D, Wilmington, NC
Contact: Pat Bradford 910-367-1137 or 910-256-5830