Black Paintings
“The assimilation of styles and motifs from African cultural artifacts into the work of avant-garde artists was a means of challenging conventional western aesthetic values and hierarchies that reflected what those artists perceived as a vacuous and moribund society. In looking to these sources to invigorate their own creative visions, what these artists actually discovered were new ways of seeing and making art.” - Wendy Grossman in “Man Ray, African Art, and the Modernist Lens”
(Continues Below)
black new
“Conundrum” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178cm) - 2017
http://barbararachko.art/images/Black_Paintings_new/Conundrum.jpg
“Survivors” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20” x 26” (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5” x 35” (72 x 89 cm) - 2017
http://barbararachko.art/images/Black_Paintings_new/Survivors.jpg
“Colloquium” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58” x 38” (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70” x 50” (178 x 127 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Colloquium_1.JPG
“A Long Goodbye” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35” x 28.5” (89 x 72 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/A-Long-Goodbye2.jpg
“White Star” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/White-Star2.JPG
“Palaver” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35” x 28 1/2” (89 x 72 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Palaver_2.JPG
“Alone Together” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20” x 26” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 28.5” x 35” (72 x 89 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Alone-Together.jpg
“Charade” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Charade_1.JPG
“Provocateur” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35” x 28 ½” (89 x 72 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Provocateur_1.JPG
Troublemaker - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/troublemaker_1.jpg
Dichotomy - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Dichotomy_1.JPG
Motley - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/motley.jpg
Spectral - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/spectral.jpg
The Storyteller - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thestoryteller1jpg.jpg
Incognito - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/incognito72dpi.jpg
Blind Faith - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/blindfaith.jpg
Broken - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/broken1000px.jpg
The Ancestors - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/theancestors1000px.jpg
Judasing - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/judasing1000px.jpg
Stalemate - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stalemate72dpi.jpg
Epiphany - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/epiphany1000px.jpg
The Absence - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/theabsence.jpg
Offering - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/offering800wide.jpg
Poker Face - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/pokerface800wide.jpg
Couple - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/couple.jpg
Big Wow - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/bigwow.jpg
Intruder - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/intruder.jpg
So What? - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/sowhat.jpg
False Friends - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/falsefriends.jpg
Fallen - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/fallen.jpg
Trio - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/trio.jpg
Quartet - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/quartet.jpg
Figment - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/figment.jpg
Blue MisterioBlue Misterioso - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2010so - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" - Framed 70" x 50" - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/bluemisterioso.jpg
Alpha - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/alpha.jpg
Effigy - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/effigy.jpg
The Space Between - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thespacebetween.jpg
Paranoia - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/paranoia.jpg
Stasis - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stasis.jpg
Some Things We Regret - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/somethingsweregret.jpg
Stigmata - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 28" x 48" (71 x 122 cm) - Framed 40" x 59" (102 x 150 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stigmata.jpg
The Sovereign - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (127 x 178 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thesovereign.jpg
Who Can be Sure of Anything? - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/whocanbesureofanything.jpg
Heightened - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2007
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/heightened.jpg
Between - Soft pastel on sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2007
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/between1392226383.jpg
I am drawn to Mexican and Guatemalan cultural objects—masks, carved wooden animals, papier mâché figures, and toys—for reasons similar to those of Man Ray and the modernists, who in their case were drawn to African art. On trips to Mexico and Guatemala I frequent local mask shops, markets, and bazaars searching for the figures that will populate my pastel paintings and photographs. How, why, when, and where these objects come into my life is an important part of my creative process. I take very old objects with a unique Mexican or Guatemalan past—many have been used in religious festivals—and give them a second life, so to speak, in New York in the present. When I return home I read prodigiously and find out as much about them as I can.
The Black Paintings series of pastel-on-sandpaper paintings grew directly from the earlier Domestic Threats. Both series use cultural objects as surrogates for human beings acting in mysterious, highly-charged narratives. In the Black Paintings the figures (actors) take central stage. All background details, furniture, rugs, etc. are eliminated and replaced by intense dark black pastel. Each painting takes months to complete as I slowly layer and blend up to 30 layers of soft pastel.
The idea for the Black Paintings began when I attended a jazz history course and learned how Miles Davis developed cool jazz from bebop. In bebop the notes were played hard and fast as musicians showcased their technical virtuosity. Cool jazz was a much more relaxed style with fewer notes, i.e., the music was pared down to its essentials. Similarly my current series evolved from dense, complex visual compositions into paintings that depict only the essential elements—the actors. As the series evolves what is left out becomes increasingly more important, resulting in more demands being placed on the viewer.