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Description
2006

acrylic, crackle glaze, polyester resin, glass, copper, oil, and aluminum leaf on wood
10"w x 24"h

-this is the third and center piece of a botanical themed triptych also featuring " APPLE ORCHARD OSCAR" and " GARDEN GIRL ALMA". this part of the set is based on my father, MICHAEL SHERRILL's " TEMPLE OF THE COOL BEAUTY". this triptych was made especially for a garden themed show at BLUE SPIRAL 1. below is the statement that was on display with the exhibit. click on DETAIL 1, DETAIL 2, or DETAIL 3 to see the painting closer. by the way, the glass pieces embedded in resin are from original blossoms my dad may for his sculpture. they were leftover and i broke them into pieces to put in the painting of the same sculpture.

"This triptych represents the three people in my life that have the closest relationship to growing things.......... my father (Michael Sherrill) and his neighbors (Oscar and Alma Avery). All three live in the back end of a valley in Bat Cave, NC.

My father, a sculptor, has concentrated his work, since moving his studio there, on botanical subjects. He has made representations in metal, glass, and porcelain including rhododendrons, buckeyes, laurels, magnolias, and many more surrounding plant species at his studio. "Spider Bite Blossom", the center of my tryptic, shows a partial and fragmented view of one of my father's 2005 sculptures, "Temple Of The Cool Beauty". This sculpture is based on the 'yucca' which grows along the border his property and his neighbors. In the center of my painting is a detail view of a small blossom from the top of the yucca sculpture. I found it very nice that, blown up, it fit almost as a section in the center of the bronze armature.

My father's neighbors used to be my neighbors when I lived by myself in my dad's cabin at one point. Oscar Avery is an apple farmer and his wife, Alma, is a gardener, baker, and a soul food cook. They both still work the land around their house. Sometimes they sell their goods at the farmer's market or at roadside stands, but often people will drive to their home to buy a bushel of apples, or some collards, or a pound cake. Although neither finished school and unfortunately are illiterate, they both have an intimate knowledge of their surroundings and the plant life there. The knowledge they have inherited is fascinating and perhaps an echo of pioneers and self-reliant peoples. My flanking portraits, "Apple Orchard Oscar" and "Garden Girl Alma", show two amazing people and the fruit of their labor.

I suppose I wanted to show something about people who have relationships to plants, but in addition I wanted to highlight the working contribution they make for others to enjoy. I don't want to explain everything, but I do hope to make my own effort to uplift and edify."

photographed by tim barnwell
(in the private collection of dwight sherrill)

Description
2006

acrylic, crackle glaze, polyester resin, glass, copper, oil, and aluminum leaf on wood
10"w x 24"h

-this is the third and center piece of a botanical themed triptych also featuring " APPLE ORCHARD OSCAR" and " GARDEN GIRL ALMA". this part of the set is based on my father, MICHAEL SHERRILL's " TEMPLE OF THE COOL BEAUTY". this triptych was made especially for a garden themed show at BLUE SPIRAL 1. below is the statement that was on display with the exhibit. click on DETAIL 1, DETAIL 2, or DETAIL 3 to see the painting closer. by the way, the glass pieces embedded in resin are from original blossoms my dad may for his sculpture. they were leftover and i broke them into pieces to put in the painting of the same sculpture.

"This triptych represents the three people in my life that have the closest relationship to growing things.......... my father (Michael Sherrill) and his neighbors (Oscar and Alma Avery). All three live in the back end of a valley in Bat Cave, NC.

My father, a sculptor, has concentrated his work, since moving his studio there, on botanical subjects. He has made representations in metal, glass, and porcelain including rhododendrons, buckeyes, laurels, magnolias, and many more surrounding plant species at his studio. "Spider Bite Blossom", the center of my tryptic, shows a partial and fragmented view of one of my father's 2005 sculptures, "Temple Of The Cool Beauty". This sculpture is based on the 'yucca' which grows along the border his property and his neighbors. In the center of my painting is a detail view of a small blossom from the top of the yucca sculpture. I found it very nice that, blown up, it fit almost as a section in the center of the bronze armature.

My father's neighbors used to be my neighbors when I lived by myself in my dad's cabin at one point. Oscar Avery is an apple farmer and his wife, Alma, is a gardener, baker, and a soul food cook. They both still work the land around their house. Sometimes they sell their goods at the farmer's market or at roadside stands, but often people will drive to their home to buy a bushel of apples, or some collards, or a pound cake. Although neither finished school and unfortunately are illiterate, they both have an intimate knowledge of their surroundings and the plant life there. The knowledge they have inherited is fascinating and perhaps an echo of pioneers and self-reliant peoples. My flanking portraits, "Apple Orchard Oscar" and "Garden Girl Alma", show two amazing people and the fruit of their labor.

I suppose I wanted to show something about people who have relationships to plants, but in addition I wanted to highlight the working contribution they make for others to enjoy. I don't want to explain everything, but I do hope to make my own effort to uplift and edify."

photographed by tim barnwell
(in the private collection of dwight sherrill)