Speech to Sanhedrin - Golden Legend of St Stephen 2016

Joe Machine’s "Speech to Sanhedrin - Golden Legend of St Stephen" seems to be rendered with acrylics on canvas. I can imagine him layering those blues and greens to create the folds of St. Stephen's robe. Look at those red angel wings, they're almost vibrating with intensity! And how about the way he's positioned St. Stephen, hands open, in front of two angels like that? He is saying something very important, that’s for sure. It’s an interesting way to show power; a combination of vulnerability and strength. Machine’s work shares something with other artists who, whether consciously or unconsciously, channel the emotional power of art brut. Think of someone like Bill Traylor— it's all about direct expression, unburdened by academic convention. I love how paintings become a place where these conversations happen, across time and between artists. Machine is adding his voice to the mix, speaking his truth, raw and unfiltered. It's a powerful thing.