a memory of sky on linoleum

Artwork by Kelly Packer and words by Adrian Kien This project consists of paintings inspired by houses in Centerville, a neighborhood on the slopes of the Butte Hill. The work goes house by house through this historical, dense neighborhood. And into the missing teeth between. Each house is an archetypal Butte house, meaning they are all distinct and yet similar - square, modest cottages that have been expanded in whatever direction a weekend carpenter with an expanding family might see fit. While the houses in this neighborhood were originally constructed by Cornish miners, the Anaconda Company kept ownership of the land upon which they were built, ensuring they could yank it back at any time. The nearby neighborhood of Meaderville fell to the bulldozers and was absorbed into the Berkley Pit. What survives the implied impermanence? This work leans into the recognizable, but it is as imperfect as a memory. I am not attempting to capture things exactly as they are, but rather the lived experience of the landscape. Dramatic color heightens emotion and provides places to wander. I used a variety of sources: my own repeated visits over 10 years, archival photos from the Butte-Silver Bow archives and other historical references. The paintings are not from a certain time, but many. Their perspectives are not solid. They are 120 years of additions and changes. And the changes keep coming in the form of grey plastic siding replacing pink asbestos. The push and pull of preservation and progress continues. The paintings are paired with poetry by my husband, Adrian Kien. We’ve been collaborating for 20 years. His words bring a dimension to the work that I cannot anticipate. And finish the started sentence.
ASIN: B0H4SLFGY6
VSKU: BVV.B0H4SLFGY6.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Packer, Kelly|Kien, Adrian
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.