From the Curator’s Perspective: Little Branch

Little Branch, painted by Damian Stamer, exemplifies A Life, Still. Stamer places objects used in traditional still life paintings, an apple and books, in a distinct composition that creates a dialogue between the objects and their surroundings. Despite the traditional elements, this composition differs from the conventional still life realm. The apple vibrantly contrasts the books as well as the patterned background, isolating the apple as a lone object. Regardless of the heaviness brought on by the apple’s singularity, a hint of color splattered on the background unites the composition. This causes the eye to shift from one side of the painting to the next, embellishing the view with a world of patterns, textures and details with in the gray-scale elements.

Look closely at this painting; compare it to the others around you. How does Little Branch depict the transient moments in our lives? What does the limited color palette suggest? As you view the piece consider the words of Damien Stamer: “a complex realm that even I can’t fully grasp—a dynamic world where the history of painting smashes against my personal history and the places I know well.”
-Abigail Jones

For more information about this work, visit the artist’s submission. Visit this blogpost to learn how A Life, Still was curated by twelve college students in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Art.

About this Curator

Abigail Jones is currently working to receive her BFA in Painting and Drawing at East Carolina University. She hopes to create artwork that is a visual representation of healing and what it means to overcome hardships. She feels the process of painting is very evident to how she goes about life: making mistakes and learning to correct them to the best of her ability. She also aspires to travel across America, live out of her car, and truly be a starving artist.