Waiting for the Parade, 1987/89, 66″ x 106”
My special relationship with Memorial Day began in Freehold, New Jersey, a working-class town famous for being Bruce Springsteen’s birthplace. For over a decade in the 1980s, camera slung around my neck, I spent the day documenting the annual parade, photographing children, parents, the old and the young—some of whom were aware that this holiday honored those who died in the carnage of past wars, though most were oblivious to history, excitedly exulting in the moment of pageantry. On Memorial Day I was able to slide in and out of crowds unnoticed, given a mantle of invisibility by the sheer number of people. I therefore got to record a diversity of onlookers responding candidly to the spectacle, thereby acquiring a vast amount of source material for a year’s worth of large pastels-on-canvas drawings.
World War II Veteran, 1985, 74”x22”, pastels/cutout canvas.
Two Girls, 1986, 68 “x 48”, pastels/cutout canvas.
Boy With Balloon, 1985, 75 “x 37”, pastels/cutout canvas.
Crowds pushed up against the storefronts, flushed bodies meeting the coolness of glass; soda pop, ice cream and ketchup beginning to trickle down the shirts of spectators. The parade itself was endless —caravans of floats, many with young schoolchildren gracefully posing, experiencing for one brief moment what it feels like to have the public spotlight of admiration shining upon them. I loved photographing those wonderful lapses of posturing, when recognition of a parent or friend in the packed, crowd-filled sidewalks initiated a loss of composure and a squall of wildly waving hands.
Father and Kids, 1986, 86.6 “x 49”, pastels/cutout canvas.
Freehold Girl, 1984, 61”x 54”, charcoal/canvas.
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Waiting, 1986, 89.6″ x 66”, pastels/cutout canvas.
Two hours later I had already used up rolls of black-and-white film as I wove through the bystanders. capturing their expressions and gestures—information that would be pored over in the darkrooms and eventually transformed into artwork. Backs of heads and profiles, varying in scale from close-ups to the impressionistic blur of the far-away, are seized by my eye, including the singular individual picked out for special scrutiny because of a human moment unnoticed by all but my camera.
Boy on Skateboard, Sides II, 1988, and I freestanding sculpture, pastels/canvas/wood, 88 ½” x 29. “
Freehold Parade, 1985, 90×59, pastels/cutout canvas.
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Robin – Coincidence – so you know how important those parades were for the community. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Not 1968…..1986! Oops
Freehold 1968…I was there decorating the Memorial Park with my art students from FLC. What visual memories your art brings to us!I’ve enjoyed so many of your literary as well as visual pieces which capture the various facets of life in your unique way. I’m so fortunate to be able to experience my passion for art with you as my mentor. Thank you, Grace, for being GRACE.
Barbara Bickel – Appreciate your words – thank you.
Thank you for the colorful and poignant scenes you created not only in the variety of unique, skillful depictions, but in your wonderful writings as well…You are truly a consummate artist!!! They helped recreate personal Memorial Day memories for me which were SO meaningful…really enjoyable!
Thank you Susan and June very much.
I so appreciate your meaningful words, including “….some of whom were aware that this holiday honored those who died in the carnage of past wars, though most were oblivious to history, excitedly exulting in the moment of pageantry” and I admire your exquisite artwork which perfectly captures a point in time.
Nice article and great paintings, Grace. You really capture the essence of the spectators.
Rosemary Pappa, Joan Davies and Lara Krall – My deep appreciation for your words of support for my writing and artworks.
Your artwork really captures expressions and gestures so well. The people really come to life. Thanks for sharing Grace.
Your fabulous paintings of ordinary people shines through. I can remember those faces from my own Memorial days in the past.,what a prolific artist you are. I miss you and the class but am never there when you have your classes. Joan
Thank you Pat. I appreciate you reading this article.
Thank you Grace for sharing your special relationship to Memorial Day through your incredible paintings! You have memorialized your experience and given a piece of it to all who see these works.
You’re a GIFT to the world , I’m grateful to know you !
Rosemary Pappa
Thank you Liz and Sandy. Those small meaningful gestures intrigue me.
Wonderful article and art!
The images shine, memorial day parade……..words come next.
Great article, captures the essence of memorial day, wonderful paintings
For clarity – my website address has changed to:
gracegraupepillard.neoimages.net