Among the Baker Artist Portfolios (bakerartist.org) I discovered the artwork of Michelle Labonte, also known as sad-eyed-artist. Her focus is Baltimore; she is a MICA graduate, an art teacher formerly at the SEED School of Maryland, a creator of the Baltimore Boys Project where she works with boys in Baltimore City, and a fine artist with a studio practice in east Baltimore. She seems very active and involved!

At first glance, her work is varied with different textures, surfaces, and bright colors. This really drew my attention. For example, the first piece that shows up is “Buried Dreams” (3×4’) and is described as using mixed media, fabric, charcoal, ink, acrylic, and a tree branch on stretched paper. This mix of materials intrigues me. The top half of the piece is bright blue with dark trees superimposed. The bottom half looks like a mix of various papers and use of neutral paints with roots overlapping. She gives a detailed explanation of the meaning within the painting, stating, “My life has little by way of hope, and has suffered an unending stream of losses…I could not carry the weight of so many disappointments any longer; I had to bury them, and they stayed buried for a long time.” The piece almost seems to have a quite literal meaning of the death of a dream, trying to find vibrancy in life underground, burying bad memories, and trying to resurrect her dreams.

In this manner, her pieces seem packed with meaning and allusion. Similarly, they make use of a variety of materials. There are rich layers of materials and meaning. This very much appeals to me.

Credit: http://bakerartist.org/nominations/view/sadeyedartist/