TLB by Maryanne Pappano
For the artist that resides in all of us
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True North I-40

The Lab - Asheville

Sinew. fiber. heart.

True North - Lexington Avenue Brewery, June 2014

True North (I-40) Solo Exhibition, June 2014 @The Lab, Asheville.

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True North

Talula Love Bottoms by Maryanne Pappano
true north
noun
1. north according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north.




This is a collection of artworks about direction. 
As defined above, true north is always subjective; shifting. 
In regards to the personal, true north is the direction our intent pulls us. It has a lot to do with intuition. We all know intuition is a struggle in itself because of influences ~ personal and societal.
For me, true north is the direction of my heart strings. I ended up in Asheville because of my hearts intuition. 
I have been in love with maps since I was a kid. The lines, colors, patterns and story within a map is a gridline of our lives. We travel, move, shift, shape in all different directions. I really wanted to tell that story in this collection. I had traveled I-40 in my twenties when I relocated to Southern California. That route for me was a defining line. 
Historically it is also a defining line. It’s not an old road. It’s relatively new in regards to our geographical studies. Many maps that I found do not even have the full length of I-40 visually. I love that. I love the timeline that we can connect to thru these maps.
I wanted to connect the mountains to the sea in this collection. I wanted to tell the story of travel, relocation and finding home. True North. 
What is your true north? I found that I really didn’t know the answer to this question while creating this artwork. It was a struggle. How did I end up in Asheville? Heartache, search, want…intent. 
I really wanted to create a collection of map artworks defining this since I moved here. This is my first opportunity to do it. I also found that I sat and stared at these maps for more of the time that I actually created on them. Fair enough. True North. In this collection I realize that the action of creating art is what defines the title of this show; ironic really. I’m grateful for it. 
My True North surfaced during this body of work. I was so concerned with telling the story that I didn’t realize that the story was writing itself..in every line; however shaky they are – it’s the truth. 
True North is about realizing your intent. My personal intent is line to paper. Maps are such a great story teller to begin with…I am so grateful for my relationship and love affair with them. They are the art, what I am able to create around them is my true north. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy this collection. It is my deepest desire that you see a bit of yourself in the work. xo

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In preparation for the next show...Why True North? May, 2014

Why True North? 

I'm just going to close my eyes and let it all come out. I'm 25, packing my car to drive across the country to an unknown. 
California.
The only thing I knew back then was that it was where the art world was....it was where my heart strings (sinew, fiber, heart) pulled me. 

I was successful there. I was in love. I got married. I was happy.

I suppose it didn't really matter to me so much that I wasn't making art. 

Fast forward to a few years later and I'm suddenly in New Jersey, failing, unsuccessful and unhappy. 
Depression introduced itself into my life for the first time. I spiraled out of control. 

Drug addict, psych ward, rehab, reckless, divorced, unhappy, sad, lost, lonely. 

I started making art. 

I've spent years pulling myself out of that black hole; but it was in the black hole that I found myself. 
It's funny how the two worlds collide and where you end up...
Asheville:

Happy, successful, grounded, healthy, open, kind, strong, independent, still a little lost, still a little lonely. 

Making art. It's been 6 years. 

Here I am in the throws of creating my first collection of Map Artworks for Asheville. This is why I came here. 

I work with maps because I relate to the lines that intersect, cross over and pull us in different directions. My own life has that grid. This body of work needs to tell that story. I-40, I just turned 40 - it's the hardest number I find myself having to write. It has it's own map, it's own direction, it's own compass rose. True North. 

True North - intuition. The direction your intuition pulls you is your True North.

I have worked really hard to get to this place where the art, the intent, the intuition and the act of creating are all connected. A 4 way stop where everyone smiles and waves at each other. I am so grateful for the highways and byways, the pit stops and the pot holes that have gotten me here to this amazing mountain. To this body of work; however it may unfold in front of me. I surrendered into the darkness to finally see the light. 

I hope this finds you on a similar journey...I do hate to travel alone. xo

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