"MY ART TRAVELS WHERE IT WILL WHEN IT WANTS. WHILE MUSIC IS ART FOR THE EARS, VISUAL ART IS A CONCERTO FOR THE EYES. I PLAY WITH COLOR, SHAPES, AND LAYERS UNTIL SOMETHING TAKES HOLD AND THE COMPOSITION COMPLETES. I CONTINUE WITH A GROUPING OF PIECES UNTIL IT FEELS DONE, AND THEN I MOVE ON. I DON’T FORCE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT WORKING. I LET THINGS NATURALLY EVOLVE, FOLLOWING MY INTERESTS, INSPIRATIONS AND INTUITIONS. CERTAIN THEMES, SHAPES AND COLORS FOLLOW MY ARTWORK WHEREVER IT GOES. FOR THIS SHOW, MY WORK HAS DIVIDED ITSELF INTO THREE DISTINCT MOVEMENTS, LIKE PARTS OF A WHOLE CONCERTO. THOUGH MY ART IS THE SOLOIST, IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE ORCHESTRA OF MY FAMILY, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND FAITHFUL CHEERLEADERS WHO ALWAYS HAVE MY BACK."
1ST MOVEMENT - ALLEGRO
EMOTIONS MAPS: GAUZY, DREAM-LIKE COLLAGES ON BLACK PAPER DEALING WITH ABSTRACTED EMOTIONS.
2ND MOVEMENT - ADAGIO
PERSONAL STRATIGRAPHIES 2.0: BOLD, TRANSLUCENT TISSUE PAPER COLLAGE FRAMED BY BLACK AND WHITE WITH UNDULATING LINES, PLAYING WITH COLOR AND FORM.
3RD MOVEMENT - ALLEGRO
WOMEN IN MONOCHROME: ABSTRACT, MONOCHROMATIC LANDSCAPES AND INTERIORS FEATURING WOMEN AND GIRLS LIBERATED FROM OLD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES.
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FEATURED ARTWORKS
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Molly F. McCracken is an Arlington, Virginia-based artist who works in mixed media collage, assemblage and acrylic painting. Often the sentiments expressed in her work refer to current events (especially women’s issues, racial justice, and colonialism), the natural world (especially the climate crisis, geology and biology) or feelings (especially deep inner reflections on her place in this world, her personal history or her day-to-day emotions). In her process-oriented art, Molly’s intention is to bring these issues to light in a way that is sensitive, visually appealing, potentially humorous, and always thought-provoking. Her inspiration springs from bold color, shape, joy, frustration, beauty and wonder. Molly is a firm believer that art is for everyone and teaches classes in Northern Virginia for young children through adults.
"My mixed-media collage work is process driven and personal, playful and color-filled. The feeling of using tactile items like scissors, paper and glue combined with the taking apart and reassembling of paper or other objects is soothing and meditative. The idea that I can use what I have on hand and remake something that has been cast off into a beautiful or meaningful new piece resonates deeply. I love the creation process and am not afraid to try new mediums, which often make their way into my layered collages.
My recent bodies of work, entitled Emotion Maps and Personal Stratigraphies 2.0 focus on abstract “maps” that examine emotions, feelings and personal history through colors, shapes and lines. These two series lead me to create my Women in Various Places series, which includes women in abstract landscapes or interior spaces. In all of my work, I find it important to use my intuitive sense of beauty and humor as I contemplate what is happening."
