Bodies in Translation: Age and Creativity

Cecil Day

Artist Biography
The American-born artist Cecil Day lives in Port Maitland, Nova Scotia. After studies at Wellesley, she earned a BA in painting from Indiana University and an MFA from Washington University. Day has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions since 1975, most recently at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax; The Rooms, St. John’s; and Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery, Corner Brook. Day has taken part in multiple artist’s residencies in Newfoundland and France and her work is in public collections such as the Canada Council Art Bank, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Artist Statement
I am in good health except for declining energy and arthritis starting in both hands. The approach of a time when I will no longer be able to handle acid or hand tools gives an urgency to work. I discard what doesn’t matter. Two years ago I began a series of images of undergrowth, thinking of death and regeneration along the lines of Walt Whitman’s What is Grass: “And now it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves.”

These prints are large, for etching, a bit of bravado. I can still do this, although, of course, I don’t know for how long. More importantly, the size lets me work with the complex patterns and rhythms I enjoy. I worked each image in etching and linocut, rather than woodcut, which I gave up as my hands weakened. The etching plates are deeply etched so that the edges of forms hold the black ink, black to emphasize the graphic qualities in the image and because I no longer have the strength required to use a roller large enough to ink the plates in colour. However, I believe black and white suits this theme well.