Kayla Cady View – Artist statement

Landscape painting became an important aspect of American art history during the middle of the nineteenth-century. The Hudson River School used their artwork to showcase the untamed American wilderness and create excitement about our vast nation. While the twenty-first century viewer may see landscape paintings as no more than straightforward depictions of the natural world, their meaning and purpose are often much more insightful. Calling attention to sublime, awe-inspiring vistas of the American wilds, the Hudson River painters sought to capture the raw, untamed essence, danger and romance of the American landscape, pitting their work against the more tranquil representations commonly seen in European paintings. Metaphors could be found in seemingly commonplace elements; clouds, rocks and trees became symbols which directed the viewer to the meaning and purpose which lay hidden in the brush strokes.

The misnomer about landscape painting is that its sole mission is to be aesthetically pleasing. By looking at the history of American landscape painting it is clear that the purpose is much more complex and layered. Similarly, the paintings of View seek to invent a new method of depicting the American landscape. One that is more interactive and conceptual; conveying the feelings and energies associated with a specific place.

Displayed in a traditional format, the paintings call attention to a traditional landscape horizon while energetic brushstrokes or three-dimensional elements take the place of clearly-defined rocks and trees. Figures of mountains and water emerge and recede, giving the viewer a chance to experience and invent their own scene. View pushes into the realm of abstract expressionism while paying tribute to the long-standing traditions of American landscape painting.