My Father's Country (Thundi / Big River) 2008

Sally Gabori painted "My Father's Country (Thundi / Big River)" with bold strokes and a rich palette that sings of place and memory. Imagine Gabori, standing before the canvas, layering color upon color, not just depicting a landscape, but channeling it. There's this intuitive mapping at play. I feel like I am walking along with the artist, as she reconstructs the sandy hues, the deep blues of the river, and the radiant yellows that evoke sunlight. The colors aren't just colors; they're feelings made visible. The orange and violet blocks are particularly interesting and offer a sense of depth and enclosure. Gabori started painting late in life, and her work has an immediacy which stands apart from the trained, academic forms of painting. Her art reminds me that painting is about more than what you see—it's about what you feel and remember. It's about honoring the stories etched in our minds and the landscapes imprinted on our hearts.