Paintings by Philadelphia-based artist Marcelle Reinecke. A reference to an Appalachian folk song–an amalgamation of several songs with no known authorship–“In the Pines” is a collection of work that blends layers of narratives within myriad iterations of the song:
“I love this song for its eerie beauty. It is mysterious and menacing, but nostalgic, and I love how overtly American it is. For me it speaks to the woodland setting of my paintings, and strikes the balance between shelter and voyeurism that I’m often chasing.”
Each of Reinecks’s paintings are a compilation, drawing inspiration from personal experience, art history, and pop-culture, and with influences ranging from Caravaggio to the illustrations of Rudy Nappi (best known for the cover art of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery novels). Reinecke also plays with the concept of anemoia–a recently coined term used to refer to nostalgia for a time or place one has never known. In this way, Reinecke’s paintings capture depictions of queer domesticity and leisure that feel like a fantasy lost in time or parallel universe.
“In the Pines” is currently on display at Monya Rowe Gallery until February 15th. All images courtesy of Monya Rowe Gallery, NY.
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