I Got Rhythm 1996

Melissa Meyer made "I Got Rhythm" with some kind of paint, probably, in no particular year. The colors sort of float, jostle and bump, like dancers on a crowded floor. You can almost feel the process; the artist moving around the canvas, never quite settling, always in motion. Up close, you see the paint isn't overworked. It’s applied thinly, almost like a watercolor, with a casual looseness. The brushstrokes are visible, quick, and sure, leaving a trail of texture. See that dash of red near the bottom left? It’s not trying to be anything but itself, a pure burst of color and energy. It’s a small gesture, but it holds the whole painting together, giving it that little kick, a confident two-step. Meyer reminds me of Joan Mitchell, not in style, but in spirit. Both embrace the joy of painting, trusting the process to lead them somewhere interesting, allowing the painting to be more of a question than an answer.