Virginia Mahoney
Am I There Yet?, 2024
acrylic on paper, words, reclaimed food net, words 50 x 39 x 34 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Looking Back to Look Ahead: 4.12.98 to 3.14.01, 2024
acrylic and marker on paper, words, reclaimed garden net, monofilament 83 x 27 x 9 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Cradled: 10.8.05 to 2.17.07, 2024
acrylic on paper, words, reclaimed food net, marker 13 x 21 x 28 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Opening 6.3.02 – 7.9.03, 2024
acrylic on paper, words, reclaimed food net, steel, thread 46 x 15 x 10 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Sometimes It Gets Dark, 2023
reclaimed food net, paper, acrylic, ink, words, thread, steel 47 x 12 x 10 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Anxious, 2022
paper (reclaimed watercolor painting), reclaimed food net, words, thread, copper 24 x 11 x 8 inches
Reflecting upon various times in my life, I revisit old sketchbooks and writings. Cutting strips from cast off paintings, I rewrite my readings there, weaving them into a container-like form or flat object to bend or shape. This is a contemplative act of remembering, honoring, and preserving, as well as processing uncertainty, change, and ruminations: so much to do, so much to think about and wrap my head around. How to move forward? It’s a stream in our heads that can make it hard to get out of the loop and to act, to make progress.
Virginia Mahoney
Just Too Much, 2023
reclaimed/re-formed old work (steel, ceramic, aluminum, thread, paper, acrylic), reclaimed food net and fabric, paper, thread, steel, words 61 x 20 x 10 in
Whether weighed down by what’s ‘out there’ or what’s ‘inside,’ humanity seems to buckle beneath a tremendous burden that is felt by many. It should be recognized that for far too many, it is overwhelming.
Virginia Mahoney
Each, Every, All, None, 2023
reclaimed/reformed old work, reclaimed fabric, paper, thread, words 54 x 23 x 7 in
Who’s most important? Who doesn’t matter? What is the criteria? Is it really necessary to identify people by category? We are, all at once, each of us, together, every, all, and none.
Virginia Mahoney
Is THIS U.S.?, 2023
reclaimed/re-formed old work, reclaimed ribbon/food net/fabric, paper, thread, words 60 x 20 x 9 in
I find myself asking this question with each new piece of news about our country.
Virginia Mahoney
I/You Am/Are You/Me/Us, 2022
reclaimed/re-formed old work (steel), reclaimed food net and fabric, thread, steel, words 71 x 27 x 6 in
I have witnessed the damage that labels can exact on people who are just trying to live their lives in the best way they can, as all of us are. Why can’t we just live and let live?
