Being out here in the Northwest versus growing up in Florida, I’ve gotten more of a sense of what it would have been like to see this wild and glorious country for the first time. It is difficult in this day to comprehend the hardship and sluggishness of that world. How it could take weeks, even months to convey the simplest of communications. In his latest series of paintings, American _Tier, Denver artist Shawn Huckins explores the juxtaposition of the artwork of the 19th century in America versus our 21st century technology-driven vocabulary.
Judging from the names they gave some of the places out here, such as Cape Disappointment and Dismal Nitch, I can imagine Lewis & Clark would have been texting WTF all over the place during their expedition. Huckins’ series surely brings to mind the evolution of language between then and now, especially in our written communications. I find it interesting to think about how people are the same as they were then, in their feelings and emotions, what has changed is in mode and frequency in which those emotions are expressed.
To see more of Shawn Huckins‘ work, please visit his website. Prints of selected pieces of the American _Tier series are available through Shawn’s website, as well!
All images are via the artist’s website.
