Artwork copyright held by the artist

Artwork Information

Artist:

Mel McCuddin

Date:

1989

Media:

Oil paint and linseed oil on cotton canvas

Size:

4'3" x 3'11"

Location:

Beacock Music Hall (BMH), east lobby by room 102

About the Artist: 

Artist Mel McCuddin created the painting Carmina by layering pale blue paint over multiple warm colors like pink and orange. The title references a piece of music titled "Carmina Burana," written by German composer Carl Orff based on a collection of medieval poems from the 1100s. The painting is part of McCuddin's body of work made using a spontaneous process. He paints from intuition until an image begins to form. He notes that this painting "came into being, as all my paintings do, with no clear idea in mind. As I painted, I saw a suggestion of the image of a swan-like bird in the paint. I think began to relate that image to human experience of some sort. The image on the canvas seemed to relate to the grace of classical ballet and to classical music in general."

Artwork description:

Spokane, Eastern Washington-based artist Mel McCuddin (1933-2022) created expressive, figurative paintings. In his own words: “I begin a painting with no idea in mind, and at a certain point in the process of putting paint on the canvas, an idea will suggest itself. Many of these ideas change and many are rejected until one seems strong enough to accept. My paintings are essentially a record of the evolution of an idea... What I’ve been after for a long time is something that you feel more than see, paintings with a strong presence.”

McCuddin was born and raised on a dairy farm on Spokane’s North Side. He loved art as a child and made art all through high school. He worked as a truck driver for dairies, took art classes when he could, and painted at night until retirement allowed him to create art full time.

Acquisition Information:

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with White River School District and Clark College. (WSAC1990.232.000)

Geo Coordinates:

45.636232, -122.651629

Related Links:

https://www.arts.wa.gov/artwork/?request=record;id=5403;type=101