Calm. Serene. Quiet. Nostalgic. Peace. Longing.
These are the words that come to my mind when I view the artworks we have in store by Madison area artist Kevin Kiley, who uses mixed media to create representations of natural and industrial landscapes around the region. A few weeks ago, he told me that painting such landscapes is his way of preserving them, because change is inevitable. The message I derive from each of Kiley’s pieces is that nothing lasts, so its important to appreciate the present. Living in the past, or the future, serves no one. We only have right now.
This artwork, “Untitled,” is an industrial scene of Kiley’s on a wooden panel that’s reminiscent of the Wisconsin countryside where I grew up. There’s a grittiness about this piece that I enjoy. A farm and telephone wires stand steadfast by what resembles a dirt path. Standing out here, you would have no idea about the technological advancements that have taken place in other parts of the United States and the rest of the world. Life in the country is slow-moving and quiet. I also like how Kiley uses the natural patterns of the wood here to make the entire artwork stand out.
In this piece, “Untitled,” Kiley paints a grey house with stone landscaping underneath bright green trees and by grass that’s the same hue. The mood of this piece is hopeful and peaceful, marked particularly by Kiley’s genius depiction of light using yellows and whites. Maybe this was painted in early spring in an urban area. I’m guessing this was somewhere on Madison’s eclectic East Side.
Of all of Kiley’s pieces in our collection, “Untitled” is the most melancholy, but with a stillness. On a wooden panel, Kiley creates a representation of a lonely ranch-style house in the country. The house’s lights are on, indicating that the end of the day is near. It’s guarded by barren trees and neighbors what appears to be a hill. I remember countless Wisconsin countryside sunsets, and appreciating their simplistic beauty. Maybe Kiley is doing that, here.
Dane County is known for its various natural areas, including trails that neighbor rivers and other water bodies. This Kiley painting has to be somewhere in Dane County, perhaps the Sugar River near Verona. This piece’s mood is celebratory. Kiley uses a broad spectrum of color to depict not just the running water of the river, but the complexities of the foliage and sky.