My Country 2006

Sally Gabori made this painting, called My Country, with bold colors and what looks like house paint, maybe. I love the way she fearlessly lays down these big, juicy shapes, one after another, like building blocks. The painting is a kind of emotional map. Look at that black shape in the middle, surrounded by rings of white, blue, and yellow. It's like a dark pool reflecting the sun, or maybe a secret place in the landscape. Then there’s a little dab of mustard yellow within it, such a surprise! The rawness of the paint, the way it sits on the surface, gives it a real immediacy. Gabori’s paintings remind me a bit of Joan Mitchell, another artist who wasn't afraid to let her feelings loose on the canvas. Both artists show us that painting can be a way to explore the world and ourselves. It's about feeling more than knowing, and embracing the mystery of it all.