Name: Lelan Gimnick
Location: USA
Title: “Why Is Caution Tape Yellow?”
Price of Original: $300 (Prints Available. Contact the Artist at the links below)
Size: 36″x 24″
Medium: Acrylic, Watercolor, Calligraphy Ink on canvas
Artist web site:
http://impossible-fantasy-studio.artistwebsites.com/
http://www.impossible-fantasy-studio.fineartamerica.com/
http://www.impossiblefantasystudioandartspace.com/
From Lelan: The title of this piece answers the question posed on the front. To wit: “Why do you always wear black?”, “Why is caution tape yellow?”. It’s a poster for any denizen of the fringes of societal acceptance. The piece feels “urban”, “street”, or “underground” and carries the attitude of that style. It has often been said that “Art imitates life” – or is it vice versa? I can never remember because, for me, imitation would be redundancy as they are the same thing and exist in tandem. I’ve been wanting to submit this piece for a while, but never came across a fitting theme. The timing of this “No Theme -Theme” is ironically appropriate as this will be my last submission for an unknown period of time, and the situation that has necessitated this break has definitely put me back behind the caution tape.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Vikki // Jun 12, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Wonderful Lelan- but I think that caution tape is yellow for the same reason rain coats are: so they can be seen in the dark or rain. But I get your point.
Definitely urban and love the cyan values in the background.
2 Lelan // Jun 12, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Thanks, Vikki. I got the idea for this piece back in April of last year when returning by bus from my trip to New York to see my children. There was a long layover in the NYC underground terminal and I was in a foul mood over having to leave them behind again. As I was skulking around the terminal looking for the smoking area, I couldn’t help but feel the oppressive weight of the inner city in those dark passageways, construction zones, graffiti-covered corners, and even a real-life crime scene. Added to my own inner brooding was the dank, clammy air saturated with exhaust fumes and general funk. That scenery stayed with me for the remainder of the trip back to Louisiana, and for months afterwards. I was seeing it in my dreams and it became the default background for many terrible dreams about my children being away from me. This piece is merely a miniscule detail within that landscape – the one that warns outsiders of the dangers of following me into the darkness that has become the only homefront I can claim.
3 Lelan // Jun 12, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Also ironic is the fact that this theme be posted around Father’s Day. May you all see your fathers and / or children with a renewed reverence for their presence in your life. Best wishes, folks… be safe out there.
4 Rusty // Jun 13, 2011 at 6:35 pm
There is an interesting twist to “caution tape”, it is simultaneously a barrier from what is on the outside and a protection of what is on the inside. Always easy to cross over but not without consquences if done so thoughtlessly. It is a moody piece.
See you when you’re ready to return.
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