Jane Corrigan “Ma Paw”


poster for Jane Corrigan “Ma Paw”
[Image: Jane Corrigan "Start Where You Are" (2018) Oil on canvas 27 x 31 in.]

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Marinaro is pleased to present Ma Paw, an exhibition of new paintings by Jane Corrigan.

The hare, a traditional subject in historical painting, was a continuous presence in Corrigan’s work and in this exhibition becomes the main subject, appearing alive and active between numerous paintings. Alongside the hare, Corrigan weaves images of hyenas and medicinal plants creating vivid landscapes and portraits of creatures.

The title, Ma Paw, directly references the move towards the representation of animals; “ma” translates to “my” in French; Corrigan has chose to represent animals that have paws as opposed to hooves or other types of feet. After a passing conversation with her father, who despite not being religious, mentioned he didn’t eat rabbit because the bible cites animals with paws as being unclean , the artist googled the subject further. In Leviticus 11, the paw is twice referenced, stating “And all that walk on their paws, among the animals that go on all fours, are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean…” The concept of the unclean then directs the actions of the hyenas and rabbits Corrigan paints. The hyenas visit watering holes, places in which they can bathe and the rabbits are depicted as scratching their fur and licking their paws. In other paintings the rabbits are seen digging and burrowing in the earth, balancing the cleansing water element with the grounded earth.

The reference of Corrigan’s father is another meaning of the exhibition title—“Ma” stands in for mother and “Paw” for father. Corrigan had recently lived in Canada with her family for two years, returning after years of living elsewhere. During this time, Corrigan developed an interest in growing plants with her father and spent time studying herbalism with her mother. The connections with mother and father are represented in the paintings through specific depictions of sumac (dad) and milk thistle (mom). Hares hide among milk thistle and Corrigan renders a beautifully colored portrait of autumn red sumac. Milk thistle is known for helping to maintain liver health, which is important to someone working with oil paints on a daily basis, and a plant Corrigan found growing at her mother’s farm in Quebec.

The physical connection to the plants draws an additional reading of the title Ma Paw as slang for “my hand”. The artists hand is evident in the painting themselves as well as the subjects being represented in the work. This reading also brings forth the classical idea of the hand of the artist being apparent in a work, which is distinct through the lush brushstrokes that Corrigan uses to depict all of her subject matter.

Jane Corrigan (b.1980) received her BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and her MFA from SUNY Purchase. She has had solo exhibitions at White Columns, New York; Kerry Schuss, New York; Retrospective, Hudson, NY and Feuer/Mesler, New York. Group shows include those at Wilkinson Gallery, London; Sikkema Jenkins, NY; and Karma, NY. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.



from April 15, 2018 to May 20, 2018

Opening Reception on 2018-04-15 from 18:00 to 20:00


Jane Corrigan

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