Dibirdibi Country 2011

Sally Gabori made this painting, Dibirdibi Country, with what looks like acrylic on canvas, in a style that's all about the joy of putting paint to surface. The way Gabori uses color is so gutsy. Look at that maroon background—it's like a stage for the other colors to perform on. And the textures! You can practically feel the drag of the brush in that vibrant yellow block. It’s not about blending or realism; it’s about the pure, unadulterated pleasure of applying color, one confident stroke after another. The painting feels direct and uncomplicated, but look closely at the way the maroon seeps around the shapes, like a tide coming in. It’s less of a map and more of a feeling, the kind you get when you just let your hand move and your mind wander. Gabori’s work reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, but with a completely different story to tell. It’s like they both tapped into the same wellspring of expressive mark-making, but came up with something uniquely their own. Art is like that, an ongoing conversation across cultures and experiences, never quite settled.