Marisa McCarthy
“ Circadian Moons”
Description
“Circadian Moons”
2020
3' x 4'
Oil on Canvas
‘Circadian Moons' explores the idea of the passage of time, in addition to how the individual experience can be different from person to person. As the pandemic has consumed ‘normal life,’ Marisa also used this piece to describe how we interact with nature during a time of increased online presence.
In this Oil painting, Marisa depicts “the emergence of a plague of cicadas.” Through this powerful imagery, she aims to “explore the concept of women as calendars and environmental keepers and feminine connection to the moon, menstruation, circadian rhythm, and the power of natural forces.”
Artist Statement
“Through my art I explore themes of identity, human connection, and ecocentrism. I utilize the motif of hands to explore various facets of identity. I engage with the tradition of figure painting both through my work with hands and with the full body.
In my figurative work I explore the influences of religion, gender roles, and the environment on identity. I am interested in the portrayal and labeling of multiracial people throughout art history.
I explore the connections between humans and the environment by representing the body as landscape, and I engage with ecofeminist and ecocentric theories such as the Gaia Hypothesis which states that all living and nonliving things are integrated to form one complex system as a way of investigating human connection to the environment.”
- Marisa McCarthy
Pandemic and Practice
“COVID-19 has greatly impacted my artistic practice. As a painter and printmaker, I became limited in my access to printmaking supplies and had to improvise with other materials. Similarly, COVID has been an isolating experience for my painting practice.
It is difficult to paint without working alongside peers and instructors to give feedback and help. Despite these difficulties, the pandemic has increased my motivation to create. I have found that creating artwork has allowed me to communicate and make myself seen in these isolating times. Addressing the impacts of the pandemic on my physical and mental health through my work has been an outlet for me and provided a space for others to share and relate.
Additionally, I have used my artistic practice to make a positive impact during the pandemic. I recently sold a zine I created about consent and sexual assault and fundraised over $600 for the Resilient Sisterhood Project, a local organization which provides reproductive healthcare to underprivileged women.”
- Marisa McCarthy