Tuesday Edition: Amy Ross

Secrets of Living 4
10"x8" ($20) | 14"x11" ($50) | 20"x16" ($200)
and
Secrets of Living 3
10"x8" ($20) | 14"x11" ($50) | 20"x16" ($200)
by
Amy Ross

Rainy Tuesday greetings, collectors. It's gloomy (again!) in NYC, but my day's a bit brighter thanks to the latest from 20x200's favorite mad-scientist inspired painter, the talented Amy Ross. Amy is old-school 20x200; her Manshroom — purchased by a dear friend with a fondness for little brown mushrooms — was the very first print sold on the site. Her Duck Magnolia, released when I was (literally) chilling in San Francisco last July, was part of last summer's Ornithology extravaganza. With few prints left of either and nary a peep from me about birds lately, it seemed high time to hatch some fresh editions from Ms. Ross.

The delicately rendered Secrets of Living 3 and Secrets of Living 4 are the product of Amy's big beautiful brain, which contains an enviable mix of talent, curiosity, intelligence and imagination. As readers of her blog know well, Amy finds inspiration in nature and science. Her flair for the fantastical makes me think of my friend Tim Walker — both of them have the sort of unbridled imaginations that I normally associate with childhood. How great for them (and us!) that their grown-up selves have managed to keep that magic intact! In Amy's case, I have a feeling that her adorable daughter Mia, a frequent co-conspirator in Amy's frequent forays into the field, provides ample inspiration.

Amy and I have worked together for a while now. She first exhibited in a group show at the gallery in 2006 and her solo show, Anima Mundi, opened a few months later. We've shared a lot of good times and adventures along the way too — I love her smarts and her sarcastic sense of humor, and have always found her to be a bit of a kindred spirit. Knowing her, it comes as no surprise that a favorite poem would spark that aforementioned enviable imagination of hers. I'll close out today's dispatch with the e. e. cummings poem that inspired today's editions:

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

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