Mail Box 2013

Curator: Well, hello there. Let's take a moment to observe Bernadette Resha's "Mail Box" from 2013, painted en plein air. What’s grabbing your eye about it? Editor: It's incredibly vibrant! The explosion of pink and purple clematis tumbling over that dark, almost bruised-looking mailbox creates a stunning contrast, although the impasto feels a bit distracting. There's tension between decay and flourishing, almost like a gothic romance. Curator: You picked up on the contrast perfectly! The oil on canvas uses a beautiful realism. Bernadette often captures overlooked scenes, finding extraordinary light in everyday moments. Do you see how the composition draws your eye in? Editor: Definitely. The structure is brilliant. The stark white post, that dark mailbox, and then this wild abandon of blooms, all organized vertically and slightly asymmetrical which only reinforces its naturalism. Curator: Exactly. And the dark background really throws those flowers forward, almost into our space, don't you think? I see it as a statement of growth within restriction. A postal box so to say… an interesting way of depicting constraints in nature. Editor: I agree with your point of tension. I interpret this restriction, like the postal box being reclaimed by nature, as a way of softening societal rigidness and the natural reclamation of all space. Curator: Absolutely! Bernadette uses impasto to thicken and exaggerate, drawing attention to detail with every petal as if caressed by light itself. Editor: Those daubs are definitely doing a lot of work to create such vivid contrasts. Though I’m more concerned about how its literal presence impacts overall design consistency. Does it become noise or add another meaningful layer? Curator: Food for thought indeed. Resha’s composition, use of light, and the tactile materiality invites reflection on home, on nature, and this tension we’re noting between wildness and domesticity. Editor: It gives an unexpected energy for such a standard subject. Now I’m seeing the painting in a whole new light. Curator: Me too. Sometimes the best journeys are ones we embark upon, even when arriving at familiar doors.