PROVINCETOWN ARTIST REGISTRY

TABITHA VEVERS

NARRATIVE BODIES

EDEN (AmoebayoubaII.07a) (c) 2007
DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park
Lincoln, MA

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, January 29th 7-9pm

A mid-career survey exhibition celebrating 20 years work through 60 paintings. Curated by Rachel Rosenfield Lafo.

January 24 - May 17, 2009

http://decordova.org/decordova/exhibit/2009/vevers.htm

 

The Eden Series depicts a species struggling to adapt to a world out of balance. It began with a small doodle of Adam and Eve as a single-celled amoeba in a post-apocalyptic Garden of Eden. The impetus came from the confrontation over teaching the Theory of Evolution in schools. The amorphous creature that I drew was at once male and female: quite literally, flesh made one.

The sketch seemed to embody a more general schism in the U.S. between science and religion - a conflict that is played out in controversies ranging from stem cell research to gay marriage. Another underlying theme is the looming presence of global warming. Remorse draws on Masaccio's Expulsion: Adam is expelled from a city in flames with his "tail" between his legs. In Mammé a many-breasted figure arises from a barren landscape sprouting babies galore, a fertility figure at once cautionary and hopeful. The Eden Series continues to evolve.

--Tabitha Vevers