“This Once Was Home”, Hurricane inspired Paintings by Fran Decker Friday May 4

Frangipani Gallery will feature a series of hurricane inspired paintings by Fran Decker on Friday May 4, 6-8 PM at 1102 Duval as part of the First Friday Art Stroll on Upper Duval.  Please come meet the artist and enjoy a champagne toast.

Originally inspired by Hurricane Katrina, Fran Decker completed the series “This Once Was Home” just before Hurricane Irma devastated the Florida Keys.  These detailed surrealistic paintings depict broken shells set against stormy backgrounds that were once home to the mollusk that built it.  The intricate insides of the shells are revealed and tinted pink to remind the viewer that a living creature once lived inside and created its shell home. All of them are poignant reminders of what we had and what we lost in the storm.

Bare Bones, Breach, Blown Apart, Looking In and Invasion show shells damaged in various ways.  Shattered and When the Roof Comes off depict the strange insides of seabiscuits and have been likened to flying saucers.  Sceptre and Ramparts conjure up what what once a might have been a castle to the inhabitant. Three spinning hurricane like shells are part of the series.  Home is Where the Heart is depicts the delicate structure of a Horse Conch after the main shell has been eroded away. Remnant and Home Is Where the Heart Is are simply graceful bits of shells.  Their revealed inner beauty brings home the loss of what once was.