The Schrocks wanted a painting to replace the dark print in their dining room. We reviewed their aesthetic preferences, discussed their aspirational environment, and explored several concepts before arriving at what would become Water Garden. The painting was created in Akron and designed specifically to transport, refine, and install on site in Naples. The Schrocks love it, and have found that the complementary colors and lighting greatly enhance the feeling and movement throughout their home.
Solstice (Was)
This two-piece residential commission was specifically designed for the meditation and music room of the client’s house. Each painting was richly layered with the colors, signals, and textures to inspire a great sense of peace, excitement, and discovery in the viewer.
The Solstice paintings began with a homework assignment for the client, to more clearly understand to colors, energies, and textures that best resonated with them. Based on their input, Mac began developing rich layers of oil paint to play with.
No brushes were used in the creation of these paintings, which lends a degree of mystery and tension in the mark-making and exposed layers beneath the surface. Solstice is intended to reflect the internal and external seasons of our summer and winter exchange.
Rosalita (Umbrella)
Rosalita (Umbrella) was painted by Mac Love in 2008, and is a continuation of Love’s Umbrella Series of paintings.
Stuffed Animal Portraits
Specifically designed for Noah's Restaurant's holiday art exhibit in 2005, the Stuffed Animal Portraits were an experiment to learn about the depth of subjective perception in the development of pictorial narrative. Each portrait began with a child painted on a sculpted surface, and was then transformed into an animal avatar.
Diamond (Red)
Diamond (Red) was painted by Mac Love in 2005, following his voluntary deportation from Scotland and while in residence at The Hygienic Galleries & Co-op, in New London, Connecticut. Diamond (Red) is a continuation of Love’s Umbrella Series of paintings, and depicts a crystalline umbrella against a ferocious red backdrop. Diamond (Red) explores and reflects Love’s grief, frustration, hope, and aspirations at a time of uncertainty.
The painting was donated to a charity auction and raised $5,000 in support of HIV (A.I.D.S.) treatment and care.
Last Sunday
Last Sunday was painted in 2003-2004 and represents a continuation of Mac Love’s Umbrella series of paintings. The Umbrella series began in 1999 as a thesis exploration of subjective interpretation, self-illumination, existential and absolute meaning. Love created the hypothetical world of Ible Invi to house and explore these concepts across a range of paintings, sculptures, installations, and performances.
Last Sunday depicts a flooded dream-like cityscape, bleached in light and darkness, with an apocalyptic column of fire rising up in the distance. Umbrellas float with playful physical defiance in the flooded streets.
Last Sunday was part of Mac Love’s Master of Fine Art thesis exhibition at The Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, in 2005. It was later displayed at The Outhouse, a restaurant and nightclub in the City Center. Its current location is unknown.
Last Sunday also makes an appearance in Mac Love’s follow-up painting The Library (Last Sunday), which was rescued following Love’s deportation from Scotland.
Terror of One
Terror of One was originally conceived in 2001 as a contemporary update of Edvard Munch's famous painting, The Scream. I originally painted painted this in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2003. It was selected for exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy and has since been exhibited in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
Daisy (Umbrella)
Daisy (Umbrella) is an oil painting Mac created in 2001, following the attack on the World Trade Center and as a reflection on human nature. An early inspiration of his was the Belgian surrealist artist, Rene Magritte. Mac has always been enamored with the language of symbolism expressed across his work.
Daisy (Umbrella) came to Mac in a dream and provoked thoughts of fear and security (real and imagined), and the tools and artifices we use to travel and go outside, both physically, spiritually, and intellectually.
The painting is named “Daisy” after his great-aunt’s personal assistant and caretaker in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Daisy was an extremely strong, beautiful, and compassionate Caribbean woman with a great sense of humor and booming laugh that seemed to be directed at existence itself.
“This painting is a lifeline, not just for American audiences, but to the better nature of all people.” – Mac Love
Democracy (Umbrella)
Democracy (Umbrella) was created by Mac Love in 2000 and is one of the first paintings from the Umbrella Series. To Love, the painting is “a reflection on [his] experience growing up as an American abroad.”
Democracy (Umbrella) depicts a glass half full/empty atop an umbrella, pouring parallel but asymmetric streams of water into a pool of power.
Self-Portrait, 2000
Made from two torn strips of canvas, push pins, and serendipitous splashes of oil paint – Mac Love’s Self-Portrait was made in a flurry of creativity in early 2000. To Love, “the painting represents a confluence of thought, inspiration, resource, and action.”
Self-Portrait (2000) was reprinted as a postcards in 2001, which have been distributed and circulated around the world.