Mary Temple

 Forest for the Sea

from the series, Light Installations, 2002-present
2006

acrylic paint on existing architecture

25' x 66' n

Corner Light, French Gothic
from the series, Light Installations, 2002-present
2006

acrylic paint on 6 MDF panels, hardwood floor, stain, urethane

12' x 10.5' x 12'

I have always had a soft spot for artwork dealing with light and shadow so it should be of no surprise that I was instantly intrigued by Mary Temple's Light Installations.

There is something magical to me about shadows dancing across an open space. Some of my happiest moments at home are around 7pm in the summer when the sun sets enough to shine through the tree outside my living room. I don't no why but in those moments my heart feels content.

Northwest Corner, Southeast Light
from the series, Light Installations, 2002-present
2011

acrylic paint on existing architecture, hardwood, stain, urethane

40' x 42'

My first thought at seeing pictures of Mary's work is that they must be projections, but watching a short clip of people moving around the space you begin to realize that it's something different all together. The viewer's don't cast shadows themselves or disrupt the shadows projected. These shadows are painted on to the floor and walls.

It's as if, you the viewer, are outside that moment in time. Like it's a memory burned onto it's surroundings and your observing, rather than participating.

Though out all Mary Temple's art are themes of doubt, trust, transparency and truthfulness. She goes to great effort to give the viewer that moment when they are unsure what they are really seeing.

"By puzzling the physical senses (setting up the viewer to fail at identifying something as elemental as light), these paintings celebrate the pleasure of trying to understand those things just outside the grasp of physical intelligence."

Mary Temple