Story Place King Alfred’s Country 2006

Sally Gabori made this painting, *Story Place King Alfred’s Country*, with bold moves and a sense of total freedom. The brushwork is clear and confident, a method of just laying it down and letting it be what it is. I am drawn to the way she lays down these big slabs of color – like that egg shape of white surrounded by a nervous yellow and all this floating on a sea of lilacs, violets, magentas and reds. It's very sensual, you can almost feel the juicy texture of the paint, which gives the painting such an emotional resonance. It's not just about seeing, but about feeling the earthiness of the pigment. Look at the way the white brushstrokes dance around each other, creating a sense of movement and depth. It reminds me of Diebenkorn’s paintings, which also share a similar interest in the way color can evoke a mood and a sense of place. The power of art is that it’s never one thing; it's always open to change.