Painting – Atomic

Individual Pieces from various Group Shows or personal exhibits

The following was my first Solo Exhibition!

Follow Your Heart presents MARY-MARGARET STRATTON, “Atomic Repast,”  Recent Paintings ~ July 3 – July 31, 2002

Follow Your Heart presents its first solo exhibition of Los Angeles artist Mary-Margaret Stratton. This exhibit runs Wednesday, July 3 through Wednesday, July 31 at Follow Your Heart, located at 21825 Sherman Way, just east of Topanga Canyon in Canoga Park. The store, restaurant and gallery are open every day from 8 am – 9 pm. For more information call (818) 348-3240.

A repast is the food and drink shared with friends. An Atomic Repast is a feast for the eyes with a decidedly ‘retro’ perspective. Mary-Margaret Stratton’s recent series of abstract acrylic paintings, Atomic Repast, is motivated by her love for Mid Century Modern 1950s and 1960s design. Mary-Margaret was primarily inspired by her collection of 1950s Franciscan Starburst dinnerware as well as the Nelson clock on the wall and colors of her 1964 Eichler home.  Infused in these paintings is a sense of creative energy with amoebic shapes that intertwine and connect in an embryonic fluid of paint. Mary-Margaret’s use of color and shape captures the sensibility of Modernists, who took their inspiration from the organic world and conceived and believed in a brighter, fresher, better world of tomorrow.

Mary-Margaret Stratton is an award winning creative director and is active in the preservation of Modern and roadside landmarks in Southern California. She recently produced the critically acclaimed and widely publicized How Modern Was My Valley tour of Postwar architecture in the San Fernando Valley for the Los Angeles Conservancy and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A former Los Angeles radio personality, Mary-Margaret produced and co-hosted On the Town a weekly drive-time show about popular ‘retro’ events and personalities around Los Angeles at KCSN.

Morning Portion Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ The first of three paintings based on the mixed media work of sculptor and artist Jacqueline Hudson. M-M found piles of unfinished canvases by this artist at an estate sale and endeavored to finish a few herself. Hudson created a computer program that would map out random shapes over a grid as a guide for a painting. Honoring this original intention the artist followed the computer’s design sketched on the canvas and then painted them in her own unique way.

Swallow Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 20″ x 20″ Abstract shapes symbolize waves of time and show a certain vitality and movement with a decidedly downward thrust. Remember… thorough mastication and digestion are keys to good health!

Abstract Eichler 1 Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 24″ x 30″ These paintings are based on the work of home builder Joseph Eichler. Eichler was known to take great pride in choosing the colors of the homes he built. Here the artist matched the original greenish ceiling stain of her post and beam Eichler home and used this color as the basis for all the other colors in these ‘tone poems.’ The work is also based loosely on the work of Modernist Piet Mondrian and 1960s textile artists. When placed against Philippine Mahogany walls – the painting looks like it has lived there all of its life!

Starlight Time Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ The second in a triptic of abstract paintings which incorporate George Nelson designed clocks – this time with the colorful Starburst Clock.

Appetizer Plate Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 12″ x 12″ Reoccurring abstract shapes that symbolize waves of time along with circles or spheres that seem to spin like clockworks appear. The thrust of the painting has an upward movement symbolic of the promise of a new morning. Remember… to enjoy the little things in life!

Portion Triptic morning-noon-evening

Atomic breakfast-lunch-dinner triptic

Abstract Eichler 2 Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 24″ x 30″ These paintings are based on the work of home builder Joseph Eichler. Eichler was known to take great pride in choosing the colors of the homes he built. Here the artist matched the original greenish ceiling stain of her post and beam Eichler home and used this color as the basis for all the other colors in these ‘tone poems.’ The work is also based loosely on the work of Modernist Piet Mondrian and 1960s textile artists. When placed against Philippine Mahogany walls – the painting looks like it has lived there all of its life!

Time and light triptic – Sun-Star-Moon light

Wheel in the Sky Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 14″ x 18″ The style of this painting is decidedly more constrained and precise. The wheel in this sky is decorated with a Franciscan Pottery Starburst pattern and ironically refers back to the potter’s wheel which gave inspiration for the painting.

Evening’s Rations Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ The third of three paintings based on the work of Jacqueline Hudson. Honoring the intention of this artist, the artist followed the computer’s design that Hudson had sketched on the canvas and then painted them in her own unique way.

Vitamin Plate Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 18″ x 18″ The abstract circular and oblong shapes you see in the paintings are actually formed from traced outlines of real vintage 1950s Franciscan dishes. Remember… one creative dose a day will keep you happier and healthier!

Noonday Dish Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ The second of three paintings based on the work of Jacqueline Hudson. Honoring the intention of this artist, the artist followed the computer’s design that Hudson had sketched on the canvas and then painted them in her own unique way.

Sunlight Time Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ The first in a triptic of paintings inspired by George Nelson designed clocks – this one with the ball clock design. The clock tolls of a moment during the day when colors are their brightest with a slight nod to the surreal landscapes of Dali. This painting has exceptional significance to the artist as it was the first produced after countless years of inactivity. She dreamed of this painting for a year before finally taking brush to canvas.

Atomic Lunch Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ Second in a trio of abstract paintings all inspired by the famous Franciscan Pottery atomic age turquoise starburst pattern. These studies focus on color and rendering techniques.

Abstract Eichler 3 Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 30″ x 40″ These paintings are based on the work of home builder Joseph Eichler. Eichler was known to take great pride in choosing the colors of the homes he built. Here the artist matched the original greenish ceiling stain of her post and beam Eichler home and used this color as the basis for all the other colors in these ‘tone poems.’ The work is also based loosely on the work of Modernist Piet Mondrian and 1960s textile artists. When placed against Philippine Mahogany walls – the painting looks like it has lived there all of its life! This particular painting has lived over the fireplace in the artist’s home since its completion.

Atomic Breakfast Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ First in a trio of abstract paintings all inspired by the famous Franciscan Pottery atomic age turquoise starburst pattern. These studies focus on color and rendering techniques.

Atomic Dinner Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 9″ x 12″ Third in a trio of abstract paintings all inspired by the famous Franciscan Pottery atomic age turquoise starburst pattern. These studies focus on color and rendering techniques.

After Dinner Conception Acrylic on Canvas, 2001, 36″ x 48″ The signature piece of the series, this abstract expressionist painting is a representation of an explosion of fertile sexual and creative energy at the point of inception. The artist also takes inspiration from Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh’s technique in “The Starry Night” again tying back into the theme of Franciscan ware. Starburst pattern.