Bright Day 1966

Betty Parsons created "Bright Day," a painting of unknown date, that explodes with visual energy. A vibrant field of blue serves as the backdrop, punctuated by dynamic, geometric shapes rendered in a bold orange-red hue. This contrast in colour creates an immediate visual tension, almost a vibration, that enlivens the canvas. Parsons was deeply engaged with the formal aspects of painting. This piece invites us to consider how she plays with figure and ground, pushing the red shapes forward while simultaneously flattening the picture plane. We see Parsons' interest in challenging traditional notions of space and perception, drawing on ideas developed within Cubism, and embracing abstraction to suggest, rather than depict, forms. Note how the rawness and the materiality of the paint are central to its affect. In essence, "Bright Day" functions as a field of signs, its structure a deliberate arrangement of shape and color designed to disrupt expectations. This piece insists on the perpetual possibility of new meanings.