Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 36 x 60
Frame dimensions: 45 x 69 1/2 x 2
Notes:
A landscape, to Clyde Aspevig, “provokes a story. It’s so powerful an emotion that you can’t help but escape, whether you want to call it romanticism or idealism of a landscape. It provokes an emotional response that is embedded in our psyche as human beings. Landscape is a universal language.”
Born in northern Montana in 1951, Aspevig has witnessed great change in his home state. As a result he advocates for conservation and responsible land use through his work. “I’ve seen some of the most beautiful places around the world get ruined by too many people loving them to death. I hope that people could learn to appreciate how fragile these places actually are.”
The Flathead Valley in Montana contains a variety of habitats, including wetlands, lakes, forests, and grasslands, which attract a wide range of migratory birds. The valley is home to several wildlife refuges. Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, serves as a crucial resting and feeding ground for migrating birds.
In Flathead Lake Bird Refuge, a great blue heron rests on a driftwood log, its gaze pointed towards the horizon. The interplay of light and coloration conveys a hushed sense of solitude, offering a refuge of sorts to the viewer as well. The cluster of decaying trees in the foreground, strongly rendered against a soft landscape, serves as a reminder that Nature is constantly changing. “The reason I paint these relics is to remind people that we are not permanent here, that things continue to change and that we should recognize that… That’s what these paintings are about: reminding us that Nature is king.”
verso: titled and signed
