Church in the Wild 2019

Curator: Jammie Holmes created this mixed-media piece, titled "Church in the Wild," in 2019. What strikes you first about it? Editor: There's an immediate rawness to it—the frenetic lines, the layers of paint barely concealing the scribbled text. It feels like a deconstructed cityscape struggling to find form. Curator: The visible layers and embedded text point towards Holmes' exploration of urban environments and their inhabitants. Notice how he uses acrylic paint almost like graffiti, a conscious nod to street art traditions. The act of layering and obscuring is important. It references how experiences and memories accumulate and influence perception. Editor: The formal tension is fascinating. He juxtaposes rudimentary sketches of cars and buildings with passages of pure abstraction. The palette, while limited, creates depth. Is the central motif actually a church or just an idea of a church? The gray scale creates an uncanny stillness among all that energetic motion. Curator: Considering Holmes' engagement with social issues, the church element likely signifies community or a lost ideal. The cityscape motif alludes to social stratification. By integrating graffiti and text, he's literally embedding voices into the canvas, highlighting the contributions and presence of marginalized communities. The title itself presents the church not as a building but an ideal. Editor: I see that. I'm curious about his choice of mixed media; it suggests a departure from traditional painting towards more ephemeral modes. Curator: Absolutely, and this challenges hierarchies that separate fine art from craft. His materials reflect the textures of the urban environment itself, referencing things like construction sites and weathered buildings. It makes us question how context influences perception. The work, by integrating the urban vernacular, makes a case for who shapes culture and place. Editor: Looking at the interplay of structure and chaos, one feels the city’s relentless pulse, and this prompts further consideration of our urbanized realities. Curator: Agreed. There is a feeling of both vulnerability and resilience. It’s a complex narrative expressed through form and process.