Queen of Maze
“Queen of Maze” acrylic on paper by artist Juan Gomez completed in 1999…
This work on paper is part of my “ Noir series ” started in the summer of 1999.
At the time I was part of an Art Group called “Art Pratique/Arte Alegre” with various artists from the Tri-State area.
Roldan West then group leader suggested to me Juan Gomez, paint your drawings.
Taken his advice, thus “Noir” series of acrylic on paper began.
1998, I was a young 29 year old artist with no ability to frame my art, which is done mostly on paper. So to save money I began to draw tiny 5 x 5 inch black & whites to fit standard frames at the time. Did those drawings at that size for over fifteen years…
Summer of 1999, I was offered to be a part of a two-person exhibition with sculptor “ Mark Pilato ” at the Roger Lapelle Galleries in December of 1999. My self & Pilato came up with an excellent show title… “Defining the Edge” Where “Queen of Maze” had its debut to the public for the first time.
“ Queen of Maze ” has been in exhibitions for over 20 years… that 21 year old piece reminds of Max Beckmann’s 1946 oil painting called “Actresses”…
1. “DEFINING THE EDGE” ROGER LAPELLE GALLERIES, ARTICLE JAN. 7TH, 2000.
2. ARTE ALEGRE “ PORTRAITS FROM ANOTHER LAND” O.C.A. ARTS CENTER, OCT. 6TH, ARTICLE 2001.
3. ARTE ALEGRE “HOPKINS HOUSE” ARTICLE 2001.
4. “BOTTLED EMBRACE” BY ARTIST ‘JUAN GOMEZ’ 1999 NOIR SERIES WORK, IN PRIVATE COLLECTION. 5. “Bottled Embrace” drawing 1999. collection, artist Juan Gomez
What makes this period of time interesting in 1999–2000… before 9/11… the beginning of the internet age… “Queen of Maze” is about two sisters sharing secrets hidden and out in he open in a fractured maze like interior looking out into nature.
Max Beckmann’s “Actresses” 1946 oil painting, the lady on the left her face is covered in some
type of white sheet, the other woman face is exposed wearing a gold crown.
Ironically “Queen of Maze” female on the left… face exposed, the right face covered in some kind of ominous black void with crown on top. Feminine torso and chard with an impression of an eye to the left shoulder.
Beckmann’s “Actresses” is more vibrant yet theme in both paintings, are eerily similar in postures. Gomez’s “Queen of Maze” is darker and more mysterious… yet both works have crowns 4 hands/2 sets of breasts… except for Gomez’s women are without legs, boots, red book & mirrors.
In my family I have 2 sisters, 3 half sisters & one brother… through out the years I’ve witnessed my sisters having private conversations in person by phone which fascinated me. The expressions tone of voice on some type of topic or dilemma.
Women are the center point of all my art, the duality of paired opposite sexes; also plays a significant role in my vision of the human condition.
Sort of fantasies a bachelor like me has “If I was married”… The longing to find my better half who ever she maybe are instilled in my imagery.
Beckmann died of a heart attack in 1950, while going to Metropolitan Museum Art to visit his self portrait painting they recently acquired. Beckmann is one of the best German Expressionist painter of his time.
My “Noir” series has been often compared to his paintings… a major compliment when I’m compared to him, by people who i do not know.
“Queen of Maze” method of work consists of 140 lb. cold pressed, watercolor paper, treated with basic white gesso. The “Noir” series palette I used is : Paynes grey, Burnt umber,Raw Sienna, Yellow ocher, Titanium white, Mars black… with mixes of Ultramarine blue, Green oxide & other assorted colors for delicate accents. You may not see those colors, I tell ya, there are in… those works.
Remarkably “ Queen of Maze ” is about modern American & global cultures … Really think about it, two figures in a controlled yet broken inner labyrinth, with exposed patterns of a broken home.
The complex connection which can transcend to the lesbian union and secrets with in their paired environment seducing our culture’s generations long … The past hidden structures, now wide open expressing a free country & state of mind in today’s world.
“Queen of Maze” is overtly intriguing yet subtle in its attitude of conflict & error of the human souls. Many observers of this narrative will have a personal story of this image, based on their own experiences and or traumas.
Picasso’s painting “Weeping Woman” oil on canvas 1937 is a great example of attitude & conflict… with a touch of major trauma. Another Picasso painting called “The Conversation” 1937, both about his torture of Dora Maar & Marie-Therese Walter… and their complex triple-relationship.
Unlike Picasso’s paintings I’ve mentioned, “Queen of Maze” has that juicy element of betrayal of a three-way relationship. When art is controversial, many tend to flee from its presence maybe because they are reminded of their own turmoil? or dysfunctions? The questions are endless…
That year 1999 December during the installation of the show “Defining the Edge”, Mark Pilato & I would go to the bar “Dirty Franks” in Philadelphia for a couple of beers… after all afternoon installing our show. I remember catching a cab with Mark to Frank’s bar… during the trip i said “Mark watch this” the cab driver old fella, kind of gentle but talkative… Some how I got him to reveal funny aspects of himself… I do not remember the details, but man it was hilarious the conversational exchange that took place during our journey to Dirty Frank’s bar, in Pine street.
Understood gluttony as well, must of spent over 30 bucks on take out food from the insatiable hunger experienced that day of the installation… I ate 3 large slices of pizza, cheese stake hoagie and more food later to point my stomach could literally not handle any more. That night I remember getting sick then vomiting the very food i ate previously… that was funny! mind you did not eat anymore after that experience.
1999 was one of my more successful year in art sales, was invited to do a lecture of my art at the University of art… in plenty of art shows in Philadelphia & New Jersey. Those day pre-dated the smart phones and the internet was young… sort of the conversion from analog to digital was gradual not did spread then.
That year I was still living with my parents, in a large house in Camden New Jersey. it was wonderful because my brother had moved out to start his life leaving me his former room to me to create art, which was done in abundance. That in that room “Queen of Maze” was created to later be exhibited in Philadelphia’s Roger Lapelle Galleries “Defining the Edge” show.
To conclude this epic experience, would like to point out three of my contemporaries artist friends Beginning with Mark Pilato, Pedro Fuller & Sonya Sider.
They have influenced my life in many profound ways to keep me creating art till now.
Mark Pilato, I met during my under graduate years at PAFA. Mark has taught me to look art from a humbling eye to fierce precision of the intricate nature of the creative mind. I remember vividly mark sculpting a beautiful tiny ear… then dropping the clay carving into a vat destroying it completely… I’m like “WOW” how could he do that? later to understand the mortality of art’s life span.
Pedro Fuller, my father introduced him to me in 1994, when they worked together in Camden.
He has given an opportunity to exhibit with him at the Taller Puertorriqueno… unfortunately at that time I was unprepared to engage in such show. Roldan West was to exhibit with him instead of me at that time. Fuller is a unique artist, for his style is very distinct also ground breaking.
Sonya Sider, Pedro Fuller introduced her to me as part of an art group… an incredibly talented artist with uncanny sensibilities in her visual narrative language. Sonya has opened my eyes to the personal expression of the inner self, like the recording of ones directions and goals in paintings.
“Queen of Maze” the image in-bodies all of those experiences and more before its creation and after. This land mark piece is important to society for it creates and engages the imagination of those who are exposed to it. Forces the inner narrative to evolve from a personal perspective drawing illusion to physical realities one can relate to.
