Friend of the Morning: New Work by Seamus O. Hames
ARTIST STATEMENT
In March 2020, I had just finished installing a solo exhibition at Out of the Box Studio and Gallery in Jamestown, Rhode Island, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck and the world closed. The following period was one of anxiety and uncertainty, and of withdrawal from the world. At the same time, Spring was unfolding outside. Green was exploding everywhere, and as I was searching for subjects for new work, I kept seeing frogs.
The frog is a symbol of Spring, and of rebirth. They are amphibious, and therefore also symbolize those who travel between two worlds. During this period of isolation, the frog became my inspiration and dream guide, speaking to me in the early morning hours, before the birds sing, when my ideas come to me. They led me into the hidden places beneath the surface of consciousness, where the ideas and the poems live, and reminded me of the eternal cycles we are all a part of. The year 2020 was a time of great change, and of great darkness. As such, my response was to look inward for refuge, while creating work that spoke to the idea of Hope. “Friend of the Morning” is a collection of my work from this period.
Seamus O. Hames
June 2021
Hames was selected for this exhibition by Susan Gosin, the Founder and Director of Dieu Donné and the judge of the 2020 Members’ Show.
