May/June 2009 Cover Artist
Almost There

by Tracy MacEwan

Almost_ThereThe group of paintings in my Home Away From Home series, which includes Almost There on the cover of New Connexion, began almost unexpectedly during 2006. I wanted to explore abstract expressionist work. This was a significant challenge because it meant letting go of an established creative structure I was used to working with, and trusting myself to be much more intuitive with painting.

I'd been working on a DVD of images from the Czech Republic when I finally realized all the pointy red roofs emerging in my paintings were there in the photographs I'd taken. Little did I know that Prague and Cesky Krumlov would influence me directly in an aesthetic manner.

As an artist, I haven't wanted to concentrate on the darker side of world issues (not my forte), but rather, I'd been looking for a more optimistic response to our recent isolationist tendencies as a nation. I began to understand how deeply I'd been moved by the optimism, passion and open-mindedness of the Czech people. The more I continued work with these thoughts and images, I was reminded of how positive these people were in spite of the difficulties still facing them. This series is about optimism and hope and the joy of being home.

Visit www.tracymacewan.com.