For some, the thought of a large-scale mixed media piece can spell disaster. The juxtaposition of two or more mediums in a single work of art requires a knowledge, or keen intuition, concerning the mediums and the manner in which they will interact with one another, as well as a good eye for aesthetics. For the Artist Kelly O'Connor, these qualities are apparent in her collage works currently on view at the Joan Grona Gallery.
Upon entering the gallery, one cannot help but notice the abundance of classical Disney figures which occupy the space of each piece. According to Kelly O'Connor, "...this subject matter is representative of certain childhood manifestations". This idea of representing "childhood manifestations" with well-known Disney icons can ring true with anyone raised by the Walt Disney Classics. Kelly O'Connor has, however, infused with the idealized a more realistic disposition. In each collage, Kelly O'Connor has successfully left clues which lead down the rabbit hole, and into a world of underlying realism.
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The piece titled Magnetic Fields seems to be the tie that binds O'Connor's work in Gallery I of the Joan Grona Gallery. The initial introduction of figures such as Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Maria (Julie Andrews) from The Sound of Music seem to make for the perfect contradiction one finds upon further investigation of the piece. In similar fashion to The Sound of Music, the sexual innuendo and dripping black clouds melt away the surface layer, leaving a reality to which all must eventually succumb. Though slightly unnerving, the work creates a time line that builds upon the necessity of childhood innocence and ends with the necessity of realization.
To view more work by Kelly O'Connor and others at the Joan Grona Gallery, visit http://joangronagallery.com.
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