NEWFOUND AMERICAN FREEDOM
ADAM UMBACH
SATURDAY, MAY 29TH - SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH
A newfound freedom, characterized by a reset in culture and an appreciation of our surroundings. Focusing on the simpler things in life allows us to connect with nostalgic pastimes of the adventurous Americana spirit. Like a drive down the coastland, a sail into the sunset, intimate gatherings with loved ones, and interpersonal celebrations. These experiences are seen through our refreshed and pristine eyes that are facing the unknown future. Adam finds this solace and depicts a freedom that has been waiting for us in our own backyard.
Adams paintings are autobiographical and explore a collective nostalgia for childhood memories. He juxtaposes detailed photorealistic representations of everyday objects that represent personal ties to memory with expressive strokes.
Using my non-dominant hand to create the thickly rendered lines and forms, I build on the sense of play by drawing with the uncertainty and freedom of a child. This formal tension mirrors the balance between my playful, often humorous choice of subjects with the weight of the memories they symbolize—a sense of loneliness pervading a singular teddy bear, toy, or boat combined with the comfort and hope that it brings.
-Adam Umbach
“This body of work explores images that hold deep ties to personal memory. The quieting of life in the pandemic has allowed for distant moments to surface as we all long for a safer past. I enjoy distilling these memories into paintings that focus on a single recognizable object, which can ignite the imagination and personal history of the viewer as they remember this piece of American life in their own context. Whatever the feeling of the memory associated with each painting, I prefer whimsical objects that reflect the hope and optimism I feel looking into the future.”
