Underpass c. 1936

Coreen Mary Spellman made this print titled, *Underpass*, sometime in the mid-20th century. Look at the mark making, it's so controlled and considered. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, a journey of decisions. The print is predominantly dark. Spellman uses tone and texture to suggest form and space. The surface has this grainy quality, with the darks achieved through layers of tiny marks. See how she uses the white of the paper to create a sense of light, like the glow of the sky. Consider the lone telephone pole to the left, leaning slightly, it almost feels human. The wires reach out, connecting this place to somewhere else. It's as if Spellman is reminding us that even in the most desolate places, there is still connection. You know, it reminds me of the work of Charles Burchfield, with that same feeling of melancholy and the American vernacular, but Spellman is doing her own thing. It’s a wonderful example of how art is an ongoing conversation, with each artist bringing their unique voice to the table.