“One Peaceable Kingdom" at Drawing Rooms, 9/19/24-10/26/24
Curated by Anne Trauben
By PE Pinkman
10/21/24
"One Peaceable Kingdom," curated by Anne Trauben, invites you into a vibrant exploration of peace and harmony through the lens of nature and animal life. Drawing inspiration from Edward Hicks' iconic "Peaceable Kingdom" paintings, of which there are 62 known versions, the collection of art on display features six diverse but thematically connected artists—Beth DiCara, Cheryl Hochberg, Claire McConaughy, Pat Brentano, Shelley Haven, and Terri Amig. The over 60 pieces in this exhibition, encompassing painting, ceramic sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and collage, immerse you in a lush, otherworldly or maybe preternatural landscape populated by animals, and natural environments, each piece acting as a conduit for compassion and unity.
You’ll be drawn in by the lushness and gaze of the four works inside the front entrance. I felt as if I’d entered an entirely different gallery. As a regular art viewer, I have formed ideas of what to expect from each of the spaces I frequent. For me, Drawing Rooms is an institution that typically prompts you to think deeply about what you’re viewing causing you to look over each work multiple times. From the moment one enters this exhibit, the visual experience and the soundscape of nature—animal calls and ambient sounds—envelops the space, creating an immersive quality of the experience. My first reaction was one of totality, rather than individuality. The auditory backdrop cleverly underscores the thematic core of the exhibition: a quest for pastoral tranquility and understanding in a world often marked by division.
Each artist in "One Peaceable Kingdom" brings a unique perspective to the overarching theme of peace through nature. The four initial pieces, a large-scale oil on canvas painting by Terri Amig, entitled, “A Delicate Balance”, gives us a direct painting of a sheep with two birds. This is combined with two wall sculptures, “Rabbit Head” and “Ram Head” by Beth DiCara, and Cheryl Hochberg’s, “I Will Protect You,” a large mixed media work on paper of two crows and a deer standing in a sort of halo, set the show up right out of the gate.
Terri Amig’s works evoke a profound emotional connection with the viewer. In pieces like the above-mentioned “A Delicate Balance” and "Amour," (seen later in the exhibit) her portrayals of a sheep and a deer gaze with gentle eyes, compel us to reflect on the tenderness inherent in the natural world. Similarly, her painting "Heavenly Bodies," with its regal sheep silhouetted against a biblical sunset, invites contemplation of not just beauty, but also a deeper, almost spiritual resonance. This same scene replaced by humans, often saints, has been repeated throughout history, only here the animals emote the transcendent centeredness.
Terri Amig, A Delicate Balance, 36 x 36 in, oil on canvas, 2022
Claire McConaughy’s work focuses on place rather than creature, seamlessly blending historical references to classic American landscape painting, but with a contemporary palette and brush work. Her large-scale pieces, such as "Meet Me at the Tree" and "Climbing the Hill," are dense with color and bravura texture, transporting the viewer into the heart of a vibrant, green forest. These works resonate with a sense of belonging, suggesting that we are all part of this interconnected natural tapestry, the same one we have been negatively transforming over these many years. For anyone who is a nature-lover, seeing these paintings will make you feel like you are swimming in the richness and color of the natural world.
64 x 48 in, oil on canvas, 2023
Resonant of the many images we’ve all seen of dead animal busts in castles and grand homes, Beth DiCara’s creations challenge traditional representations of animals, invoking the aesthetic of hunting trophies while transforming them into symbols of kindness and respect. Her work cleverly subverts the notion of dominance over nature, presenting animals like a goofy bear or a regal giraffe as figures deserving admiration rather than conquest. The playful yet respectful tone in her mounted heads and self-standing sculptures invites viewers to reconsider their relationships with the animal world. In a manner like the stuffed animal artist Mike Kelley, DiCara deftly undermines the potential for these works to be seen as ‘cutesy’ by keeping them grounded in a rather gruesome past.
Cheryl Hochberg's pieces carry a mystical quality as seen in "I Will Protect," where a deer encircled in gold emanates a sense of grace and vulnerability. This piece, alongside others like "Bedfellows," seamlessly blends painting, printmaking, and collage, producing an ethereal atmosphere that encourages introspection about humanity's role in the animal kingdom. One of the real standouts in the show is also a Hochberg work. The piece titled “Redemption Woods,” is full of mystery, confrontation and contemplation, brought on by the unexpected and strong use of gold paint, strategically placed in the lower center and at the horizon. This work brings together three major elements of the show, beauty at the act of painting such a scene, fear at what may be lurking in such a dark wood and connection to an almost hidden animal that we feel both compelled towards and pushed away from. This is the ever-ongoing dilemma of modern man in the wilderness.
Pat Brentano and Shelley Haven complement this narrative by emphasizing the intricacies of nature. Brentano’s intricate collages and drawings reveal the complexity of trees and landscapes. They are layered with natural imagery that both reveals and hides the details of this world. It’s hard not to be drawn into her web of twigs, branches and leaves. And without a doubt her ink works highlight her talented hand.
Haven’s works invite viewers to traverse personal memories of nature’s beauty, serving as reminders of the fragility and resilience of the natural world and highlighting the need for empathy and understanding. They seem to show us the geology of the world in its form as a skin, full of age and cracks, but redolent of the beauty that comes with time and maybe wisdom.
And as referenced previously, Terri Amig’s animals land us directly in the Peaceable Kingdom. We are presented with animals that are painted in such a way as to be open to us, to our yearnings for a friendly and accepting world of other creatures. Yet, I have to wonder if there isn’t a level on which their mostly neutral gazes cover over a general disdain of humankind. We are, after all, doing our level best to reduce what we have been given to a wasteland for both them and us. These animals confront us as much as they acknowledge us.
The exhibit operates on multiple levels, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork not just visually, but emotionally and intellectually. At its heart, "One Peaceable Kingdom" encourages contemplation of what it means to coexist harmoniously with nature and one another. Each piece acts as a conversation starter, prompting reflections on the broader implications of peace—whether it be through shared empathy for the animals portrayed or through an acknowledgment of our interconnectedness within the ecosystem.
The exhibition posits that animals, much like humans, navigate complex relationships of cooperation and conflict, urging viewers to foster compassion and understanding in their interactions with both nature and society.
"One Peaceable Kingdom" stands out as a thought-provoking and beautifully curated exhibition that successfully transports its audience into a realm of tranquility and reflection. The diverse styles and approaches of the featured artists create a rich tapestry that engages the senses and prompts critical thinking about peace in today’s tumultuous world.
The immersive environment, enhanced by the thoughtful soundscape, elevates the experience, allowing viewers to momentarily escape the stressors of daily life and enter a serene if potentially mundane space of contemplation. By weaving together themes of empathy, coexistence, and the beauty of the natural world, the exhibition not only honors the legacy of Hicks’ work, but also offers a fresh perspective on the urgent need for compassion in an increasingly divided society.
"One Peaceable Kingdom" is more than an art exhibition; it is a call to action, encouraging us to foster peace and understanding both within ourselves and in our interactions with the world around us. As we navigate our complex relationships with nature and each other, this exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty that arises from empathy, unity, and respect.
PE Pinkman is an artist, curator and the director of the Watchung Arts Center, a 501c3 non-profit. His artwork blends vibrant colors and dynamic forms to explore themes of identity and urban life, creating a striking dialogue between chaos and harmony. Learn more about PE here.