Dibirdibi Country 2007

Sally Gabori painted Dibirdibi Country using bold acrylics on canvas. I love the pure, unblended color and how Gabori embraced the materiality of paint, a kind of process-driven approach that emphasizes the act of painting itself. Looking at this piece, you can almost feel the texture. The thick application of paint, especially in that vibrant red section at the top left, is really striking. It’s not trying to hide anything, no attempt to smooth it all out. It's as if each stroke is a deliberate, confident step in a dance. And then, just below that, the two black shapes sitting on top of the blue and purple, the black feels almost sculptural. I see echoes of Milton Avery in Gabori’s simplified forms and emphasis on color relationships. Both invite us to appreciate the sensual qualities of paint, but in a playful way. It reminds us that painting is a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time. It’s a language that values openness over closure.