Sandra Dawson

1989 B.F.A. University of Illinois Chicago, IL 1983 Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO Lives and works in Chicago There is a rough, gritty strength found in the mixed media surfaces of Sandra Dawson's work that belies the gentle imagery of children, trees, sky, and birds. The imagery might reveal her love of nature, but it is the workman-like physicality of her paintings that carry her unique voice. Layering spackling compound, various paints, vigorous drawing, and and layers of collage, Dawson builds her paintings from the ground up. She renders her birds with a direct, detailed authority, poised on branches they have momentarily claimed. The viewer finds themself held in this moment, not only by the image of the bird, but by the palpable matrix of the sky and branch patterns where it rests. Dawson's work will be familiar to those who have watched the Chicago scene over the last decade and a half. In her newest work, Dawson unites objects from the natural environment and autobiographical elements with surreal, dream-like imagery to create work of both physical and emotional depth and complexity. Layers of paint are etched, scratched and subtracted to create a history and to conjure memories. Says Dawson, "My work evolves from an observation of our natural world, our social circles and our internal psyche. In my work I weave images from past cultures, myths and folklore along with symbolic elements of modern life. I paint intuitively and playfully employing various mediums along the way. I consider my work an observation, meditation and celebration of life." View Biography