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Mission Happiness

Solo Exhibition | Mary Zeran
  • Exhibit Dates: December 11, 2020- January 23, 2021
  • Virtual Reception with Mary Zeran: Dec. 11th, 5:30pm CST
  • Facebook Live walk-through: December 10th, 5:00pm  WATCH
Exhibit Info & Statement

Mission Happiness

 December 11, 2020- January 23, 2021
Solo Exhibition | Mary Zeran
Virtual Reception:
Dec. 11th, 5:30pm CST

Mission Happiness

Ten years ago, I ran...not walked, out of a full-time job to become a professional artist. Impulsive? Yes. But it had to be done. Call it fleeing for my life. Call it a mission of the soul. I just knew, if I didn't run at that time, I'd be stuck for the rest of my life. I think we all have a secret that we try to hide from immediate view. Mine has always been that I'm a nervous, anxious, and fearful person. My decision years ago changed everything.

Since then, I've been on this mission to find happiness. Along the way, I've learned that happiness doesn't exist purely on it's own. It can only be made possible by weeding through frustration, sadness, failure, and the willingness to take risks...make something bad, jump into something new. This has led to finding some bright moments in the calm and in boredom, even. I find I'm my most creative when working within parameters, so a bit of my happiness comes from building my own system of habits and pattern.

Making art is how I stay balanced and quell my nervousness.

Living through a pandemic, I've discovered, is absolutely terrifying. I made the prints in this show during the first "lockdown" earlier this year. It seemed like the only way I could exercise my fear was to work quickly. I'd work on 12 at a time, making efficient use of the textured stamps I carved, and simultaneously thinking about what color to use with each. If something didn't work, I'd cover it up with a layer of paint. And each layer gave me a chance to redo and start fresh. Working at that speed meant there wasn't a lot of time to worry about perfection. This performative exercise to keep my mind focused on artmaking, instead of the uncertainty COVID-19 imposed, became a beautiful distraction and reenergized the way I create.

This exhibition also showcases the artworks on panel and paper that I have in my archives. The early artworks were made in a similar fashion as the prints: testing, editing, and making good and bad decisions. Looking back at how new that method of painting was for me and reflecting on the enjoyment I had in "playing" with something unfamiliar, gives me hope for my path forward. Being able to pair early works that were created at the beginning of my professional journey with the newly introduced prints feels like the perfect way to commemorate my ten-year celebration.

-Mary
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Exhibit Images
Video

Teaser

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KCCK Culture Crawl

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Catalogue
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  • Prints

  • Paper

  • Panel

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  • Picture
    A Flipping of Perspective

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Adding Distance

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 13.75" x 14"
    $395 Framed


    Picture
    Good Stuff

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 14" x 14"
    $395 Framed


    Picture
    How I See It

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 14" x 14.5"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Swirling Around Us

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Like A Unicorn Puking Rainbows

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Peculiar World

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 13.5" x 13.5"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Play the Way You Feel

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 13.5" x 13.5"
    $395 Framed


    Picture
    Pushing Out

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 14" x 14"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Richness Below the Surface

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Strange Times

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    The Roots Are Deep

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    The Unsaidness

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Was I Thinking?

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    What Emerges

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    What We Love

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    What's Above is a Result of What's Below

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Restless= Anxious

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Do Your Work

    Acrylic on paper
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12"
    SOLD


  • Picture
    Till Tuesday

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
    $350 Framed


    Picture
    Wood #22

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 8.25" x 11"
    $275 Framed


    Picture
    Wood #24

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 10" x 7.25"
    SOLD


    Picture
    A Warm Breeze

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 20" x 16"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Lumpy to the Left

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 30" x 22"
    $1,000 Framed


    Picture
    Chroma Explosion

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 30" x 30"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Just Right #2

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 26" x 40"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Decisions Are Difficult

    Acrylic, duralar on paper
    Art dimensions: 26" x 40"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Yardage 2

    Acrylic on duralar
    Art dimensions: 61" x 20"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Irezumi #6

    Acrylic on duralar
    Art dimensions: 48" x 26"
  • Picture
    Always on the Warm Side

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12" x 2"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Forecast

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12" x 2"
    SOLD


    Picture
    100 Day Project, #65

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12" x 2"
    $390


    Picture
    100 Day Project, #78

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 12" x 12" x 2"
    $390


    Picture
    Double Calamities [diptych]

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 12" x 24" x 2"
    $780


    Picture
    Enoughness

    Acrylic, duralar on panel
    Art dimensions: 20" x 30"
    Picture
    Slight Chance

    Acrylic, duralar on panel
    Art dimensions: 20" x 30"
    Picture
    What Does it Mean to Believe?

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 18" x 24" x 2"
    SOLD


    Picture
    Downward Motion of Air

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 24" x 24" x 2"
    $750


    Picture
    In the Farthest Reaches

    Acrylic, duralar on cradled panel
    Art dimensions: 60" x 47.5" x 2"
    SOLD


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Gilded Pear Gallery
808 THIRD AVE. SE CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 52403
319-366-0205
Suzy@gildedpeargallery.com
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Lauren@gildedpeargallery.com


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