Sunburst 2014

Editor: So, here we have Bernadette Resha's "Sunburst," painted in 2014 using acrylics. The painting zeroes in on a close-up of a single flower. What strikes me most is its vibrancy and almost playful use of color. How do you interpret this piece, and what stands out to you? Curator: You know, when I look at this, I'm immediately transported back to childhood summers. There’s something so joyous and unapologetically optimistic about that splash of orange against the blue. The flower practically overflows the canvas. Resha’s really nailed that feeling of abundant warmth. What I find fascinating is how she's chosen this angle. It’s not the typical, pretty face-on view; we’re seeing it from slightly below, almost a bug's eye view, giving it this imposing, almost regal quality. Doesn't it remind you of staring up at something majestic? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean! It does feel very grand from that angle. But why focus so much on one bloom? What’s she trying to say, do you think? Curator: Perhaps it's about singling out beauty, celebrating the individual. I see Resha urging us to appreciate the small things that bloom, maybe even amidst the less colourful parts of our lives. Flowers do tend to that for us, don’t they? And look closely at those petals – the almost careless strokes of the acrylic… do you notice how that apparent casualness adds to its charm? It says to me that beauty isn't about perfection; it’s about a certain radiant energy. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but now that you mention it, those strokes do seem full of energy. I came in thinking it was just a pretty picture, but I'm leaving with a whole different appreciation for its intention. Curator: Precisely! Art, at its heart, often dances just beyond our initial expectations, doesn't it? Always something to consider and learn with each new piece.