Tellus | Caelus : Seeing Earth and Sky: Anne Marchand Solo Exhibition at the Woman's National Democratic Club, Wash. DC
The paintings selected for this exhibit are expressions of the artist’s heartfelt connection to her understanding of the unity of creation found in so many religious traditions, ancient and modern, as well as informed by consideration of the space images of the Earth and the stars—both Tellus and Caelus.
-- Claudia Rousseau
Anne Marchand's solo exhibition Tellus/Caelus is currently on view at the Woman's National Democratic Club through May 18th, and features twenty recent paintings by Washington DC artist Anne Marchand. This solo exhibit marks a new level in the artist’s stylistic evolution over the last ten years.
Marchand found her new path reading the latest edition of “space philosopher” Frank White’s book, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution (2019). Based on interviews with astronauts who were in the Apollo program as well as on the International Space Station, the book articulates the psychological effect of actually seeing the Earth from space. While not their mission, in 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 were the first to turn their cameras away from the stars and toward the Earth, giving us the image prophesied by Fred Hoyle twenty years earlier: a photograph of the planet from the outside looking in. The effect of the experience itself on the astronauts was universally transformative, even overwhelming. Every one of them,whether from the 1960’s or much more recently in space have all acquired a new “whole earth perspective,” that is, a new understanding of the unity of all life on the planet and the interconnectedness of all its systems.
Now, at the beginning of 2021, the paintings selected for this exhibit are expressions of the artist’s heartfelt connection to her understanding of the unity of creation found in so many religious traditions, ancient and modern, as well as informed by consideration of the space images of the Earth and the stars—both Tellus and Caelus. They bring Marchand’s long interests in cosmology and mythology together, and in particular, the idea of the coming into being of the material world we know, against the mystery of our existence. Just as viewing the photographic images of the planet from space can provoke some of the “overview effect,” it is hoped that seeing these expressive paintings will inspire viewers in a similar way. Full of brilliant color and gesture, with dense surfaces layered with acrylic, ink, charcoal, and other media, these paintings can provide the willing viewer with a sense of the way that having that “whole earth” perspective can be both individually and universally transformative, leading toward a more peaceful and just world for all.
--Claudia Rousseau, Ph.D., curator
Anne Marchand’s “Tellus/Caelus: Seeing Earth and Sky” Exhibition at the WNDC Exhibition Dates: February 25 to May 19, 2021
The Woman’s National Democratic Club is excited to announce the opening of “Tellus/Caelus: Seeing Earth and Sky,” an exhibition of recent work by Washington DC artist Anne Marchand, guest curated by Claudia Rousseau on February 25, 2021. The exhibition of twenty-two paintings marks a new level in the artist’s stylistic evolution over the last ten years. Bringing together her interest in cosmology and mythology, Marchand’s work examines the theme of coming into being of the material world we know, against the mystery of our existence. As a painter, Marchand has been fascinated with images of the universe made by instruments like the Hubble telescope that have given shape and color to the vastness of space and have evoked the mysterious beauty of planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae. Over the past decade she has made paintings reflecting this outward gaze and the mystery of space. In more recent years, this external gaze is paired with an internal reflection on the origins of the cosmos and our existence exploring imagery of the Great Mother and creation myths. This interest further expanded after Marchand’s encounter with writings from astronauts and their experience of viewing Earth from space. In 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 were the first to turn their cameras away from the stars and toward the Earth, giving the first photograph of the planet from the outside looking in. The effect of the experience itself on the astronauts was universally transformative. Every one of them, whether from the 1960’s or more recently in space have all acquired a new “whole earth perspective,” a new understanding of the unity of all life on the planet and the interconnectedness of all its systems. The paintings selected for this exhibit are expressions of the artist’s heartfelt connection to her understanding of the unity of creation, ancient and modern, as well as informed by consideration of the space images of the Earth and the heavens —both Tellus and Caelus. Just as viewing the photographic images of the planet from space can provoke an “overview effect,” it is hoped that seeing these expressive paintings will inspire viewers in a similar way. Full of brilliant color and gesture, with dense surfaces layered with acrylic, ink, charcoal and other media, these paintings can provide the viewer with a sense of how that “whole earth” perspective can be both individually and universally transformative. Anne Marchand holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Auburn University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Georgia. Her works have been included in national and regional exhibitions at the Morris Museum of Art, the Macon Museum of Arts and Science, Roper Gallery at Frostburg State University, Brick City Gallery at Missouri State University, American University Museum at the Katzen, Maryland Art Place, the Washington Project for the Arts, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Palm Springs Art Museum, Rawls Museum Arts, and the Athenaeum. Her work has been published in The Washington Post, Art Daily, Hyperallergic, 100 Artists of the Mid Atlantic, Art & Object, Studio Visit Magazine and Artist Studios and Homes. Marchand exhibits with Zenith Gallery in Washington, DC, Cross Contemporary Art in New York and Green Chalk Contemporary in California. She has exhibited at prestigious galleries in Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, and Hawaii. She has received numerous prizes and grants for her work, most notably an Artist Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 2020. Her work is featured in numerous corporate and private collections in the United States. The Woman’s National Democratic Club is located at 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC, and is open Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm for visitors. Information about the exhibition is available at www.democraticwoman.org/museum-gallery. For more information about the exhibition, contact the Visual Arts and Museum Affairs Assistant Claire Sandberg at vama@democraticwoman.org.
