A Moment By Pamela Wilder Hurst

NOTE: This print was "Untitled," and the title of this blog post is a play on the title of the exhibition where I encountered this work of art.

I'm teaching summer camp again this year at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, and last week I happily caught the tail end of the exhibition Moments, featuring paintings by Sally Paynter and (most interesting for me) black and white relief prints by Pamela Wilder Hurst.

Most of Hurst's stark imagery captured an interaction between two people. And while this image is a moment of affection, a number of the others caught more disturbing, even violent interactions. I loved the juxtaposition of these two extremes. That, combined with the drama of pure black and white, and the rough and expressive details (such as the aged and heavy hand in this print) bestowed emotional weight to the whole body of prints exhibited. I found myself seriously contemplating old cliches such as the thin line between love and hate and the inevitable sadness that comes with time and change. But much relief came in the form of the formal delicacy of Hurst's drawing style.

I couldn't find more information about this artist anywhere, and apparently I just missed her when she came to pick up her work from the gallery while I was working with my students. But if anyone know her or more about her work, let me know.