Mr. Forager and I have been talking a lot lately about our eventual home. We have no idea where exactly it will be located, but we keep honing in on what our wants and needs will be. While we love the idea of building our own from scratch, so that we suit it precisely to our needs and desires, I can’t help but keep going back to the idea of reviving a home that has lost its luster. These paintings by Memphis artist Jared Small celebrate the past lives of decaying structures and perhaps give a nod to the potential sparkle still to be found.
Small uses light to great effect in showcasing these structures, using it to add emotionality and personality to each composition. In some, the houses recede into the darkness, shy and retreating, like a scared child hiding behind his mother’s legs. But for others, the houses are lit up and gleaming through the darkness like a beacon, letting us know that although the outside may seem run down, there is still hope and joy to be found therein.
To see more of Jared Small‘s work, please visit his website. If you happen to be in the Memphis area, you can see his work in person at the David Lusk Gallery.
Images via the artist’s website and the David Lusk Gallery website. Artist found via David Lusk Gallery.