THE GUARDIANS, a solo exhibition of new work by artist KESHA BRUCE. December 14th, 2013-January 8th, 2014.

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About the Guardians:

In the winter of 2011, Kesha Bruce awoke in the early morning hours to see a figure hovering silently at the foot of her bed. This brief moment of fascination, terror, and eventually wonder, has beenthe obsessive focus of her work for nearly three years. To date, Bruce has completed nearly 200 works based on The Guardians – a group of solemn, mysterious figures who act as watchers, keepers, and protectors.

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About Kesha Bruce:

Sidestepping the weight and implications of formalized religion forthe better part of her career, Bruce’s work has explored the fertile territory of memory, mythology, African-American folklore, and magical-spiritual belief. With The Guardians her work makes a shift towards questioning not only the place of spiritual practice in contemporary culture, but also the place of genuine spiritual experience in contemporary art making.

New Paintings by Laurel Hausler

MFA is pleased to share three new pieces by DC native, Laurel Hausler (see slideshow below).

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Hausler oftentimes incorporates literary overlaps in her work.  She has created this oil on canvas painting (complete with x-rays)  titled Bluebeard’s Place. The painting is based on the French folktale Bluebeard which was written by Charles Perrault in 1697.  Bluebeard is one of eight tales by the author first published by Barbin in Paris in Histoires ou Contes du temps passe. The chilling story chronicles a violent noblemen who murders his wives and the attempts of one wife to avoid the fate of her predecessors.