Heat Wave 

Editor: So, here we have “Heat Wave,” a figurative painting by Sarah Joncas. I am immediately drawn to its cool, almost dreamlike mood – there is a strong focus on the figure, enhanced by the slightly surreal dripping cherries that frame the subject. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: Oh, it whispers of summer, doesn’t it? Those cherries look ready to burst! For me, it’s all about that delicate balance Joncas strikes. She’s walking this tightrope between realism and fantasy. The sunglasses hide so much of the figure's emotion, yet those cherries are almost overwhelmingly sensual in the rendering of their weight, color, and juice. I see the sunglasses as maybe representing a barrier and protection of herself. A sort of detachment? What do you think? Editor: Yes! The sunglasses definitely add to that feeling of detachment and cool indifference. The rendering of the fruit gives the image so much depth and visual interest that you almost forget she’s looking off into the distance. It almost feels like the heat wave is radiating from within the portrait. Curator: Beautifully put! The internal heat, juxtaposed against the cool detachment…it makes you wonder, what is she trying to shield from the world, or perhaps from herself? It has a bit of a symbolic aura about it. Editor: That is a very evocative question and insight! Thanks for giving me a new appreciation for this piece! Curator: And thank *you* for sparking some fresh thoughts in my own cherry-addled brain! I see the work with slightly new eyes.