Carrie Mae Smith: Blue Roses
Lowell Ryan Projects is pleased to present our second solo exhibition by Upstate New York-based artist Carrie Mae Smith. The exhibition, titled Blue Roses, features a series of still life paintings depicting a particular set of flow blue china in W.H. Grindley's Rose pattern (c. 1893). This series represents a progression in Smith's artistic practice, showcasing her evolving formal techniques while continuing her exploration of the history and significance of domestic utilitarian objects, especially culinary items.
A favorite of Smith’s because of its imperfect patterns and soft painterly designs, she set up various arrangements of the flow blue china for her painting compositions. Atop tables in her light-filled studio, the arrangements appear almost as if the china pieces had just been placed out in preparation for setting the table for a special dinner. Serving vessels are nestled between stacks of plates and cups and saucers, forks and knives are cradled in dishes or placed as a pair on dinner plates. Most of the works are painted looking down upon the china, or at an angle from above, allowing Smith to capture the delicate patterns both on top of the plates and on the sides of the pitchers and cups. The rich blue patterns on cool white china are set against the beige tones of a warm linen tablecloth, the light from the window casting soft shadows between the dining and serving ware.
“With my still-life paintings, I aim to highlight the inherent beauty of these items, viewing the arrangements of stacked china as contemplative spaces,” Smith explains. “As I arranged the compositions and painted this series, I found myself reflecting on the family who once owned these pieces, the meals lovingly prepared and served on these dishes, the care taken to clean and store them, and the cabinet where they waited patiently for the next special occasion. My thoughts also wandered to the cultural weight these items carry and how changing lifestyles have diminished the significance of formal traditions over time.”
While Smith’s artistic practice touches on various social and political concepts and ideas, the works in Blue Roses enable the viewer to relish in the beauty of both her painterly style and her ability to further extend the lifecycle of these elegant items.
Carrie Mae Smith (b. 1974, Derby, CT) lives and works in Upstate New York. Inspired by antiques and food culture, Smith often paints her personal collections of vintage china, historic objects, and culinary delicacies. The daughter of a butcher, she supported her artistic practice early on working as a private chef on Martha’s Vineyard. Smith’s works serve as symbols of class, labor, friendship, tradition, love, and utility. She holds an MFA in Visual Arts from the University of Delaware (2013). Smith has received numerous awards and grants, including the Clowes Fellowship Full Scholarship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT; Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc. Artist Grant; and the Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation, Artist Grant. She has exhibited her work internationally and nationally, with recent solo exhibitions at Lowell Ryan Projects, Los Angeles, CA; the Locust Grove Estate, Poughkeepsie, NY; and The Berman Museum, Collegeville, PA, and her works are included in numerous private and public collections. Carrie Mae Smith currently lives and works in Gilbertsville, New York, where she serves on the faculty at SUNY Oneonta.