Willful Oblivion 2018

Rose Freymuth-Frazier made ‘Willful Oblivion’, painted with layers of oil, like a memory that's been reworked and softened over time. I’m struck by the way the red glasses act as both a barrier and a filter, almost painting the world in a specific hue. Look at the details of the jacket, those dark blues with touches of impasto that catch the light, versus the smooth, blurred background. It’s a contrast of focus, mirroring the blurred line between seeing and not seeing, knowing and maybe not wanting to know. The little dog she holds, looking out from under its brow, seems to have noticed something she hasn't. This piece makes me think of Alice Neel and her portraits of friends and fellow artists; there’s that same sense of intimacy, a glimpse into an interior world, but with a wink and a nudge towards the absurd. It’s art inviting you to look closer, to ask questions, and maybe not find all the answers.