Civitas Avum

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Still lifes are too often simply decorative exercises in techniques.  I wanted to create still lifes that related more closely to my larger interest in narrative painting.  Civitas Avum means "City of Birds" - I think of these paintings as depicting a kind of post apocalyptic world.  Any narrative is implied rather than stated, with much left up to interpretation, yet still oblique associations present themselves at every turn.  For example, what should we make of the fact that these are all turkey skulls?  A "turkey" is a slang term for a fool, and it is also a bird closely associated with the United States.  Since ancient times, augury, the reading of birds, has been employed to predict the future.  And the presence of certain birds are seen as omens and portents all in many cultures all over the world.  With these paintings I do not fully plan an intended "meaning" - I seek interesting juxtapositions and imagery, and then read the auspices after the fact.