Grandmother at the White House 2019

Jammie Holmes made this painting, Grandmother at the White House, with loose strokes, blurring lines and forms to convey a dream-like scene. I imagine Holmes layering thin washes of color and letting the imagery emerge organically, so the White House is solid but dissolving at the same time. I sympathize with the artist, imagining him trying to capture a personal narrative within a potent symbol of power and history. The grandmother figure is faceless but her hands, clasped in her lap, speak volumes. The pink chair she sits on seems tentative, as if Holmes is considering her place, her presence in this space. There's a kind of bravery in the way Holmes works, and it comes out of a dialogue that goes way back. Artists like Bob Thompson come to mind, who also created new stories that speak to the here and now. It’s exciting to see new artists adding their voice to the mix.