Annunciation 1995 gouche on paper 17" x  14" $500 Good condition

Descent from the Cross 111: Icon Study 1994-1995 arcylic on canvas 36" x  30" $700 Good condition

Artist's Statement

Marjorie Hennessy is drawn to the events of the Judeo-Christian tradition as it recurs historically and unfolds for her experientially. The cross motif emerges in some form in most of her work. Its mystery is fathomless, its form suits the vertical-horizontal grid which underlies the emotive passages in her paintings. Her work has moved from realism to expressionism and now lies somewhere near or within the area of abstract-expressionism. However, it is rarely without some representation, as she is drawn to the "otherness" of objects and the inner-outer space they occupy. She says of the two paintings of this exhibit:

Annunciation

"This piece didn't develop as I had planned it, of Mary and the angel. Mary emerged as a ‘now' person in a domestic, contemporary setting. Dark blue fills her figure, becoming for me a deep, receptive, yielding place–totally obedient, and given over to receive the Savior. Mary's Event was singular, pivotal, and 2000 years ago. But the invitation to receive Him is now, is ongoing."

"I spotted this composition in a tiny illustration, one of many that surrounded an icon. It delighted me in its feeling and rhythms. The three clown-like figures evolved during my search for a universal icon, an ‘Everyman' to demonstrate my identification with the subject. It is all of us taking Him down. Only Mary remains steadfast in her solitary suffering, holding His hand, connecting intimately as His mother, to the agony He suffered on our behalf."

Return to MSA Exhibit

Return to Gallery

Return to The Mary Page This page, maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, and created by J.C. Tierney , was last modified Tuesday, 09/29/2009 09:35:41 EDT by Ramya Jairam . Please send any comments to jroten1@udayton.edu. URL for this page is http://campus.udayton.edu