Death and Paradise

Noted as a cartoonist, Dawna Gallagher has more recently received positive recognition as a figurative and landscape painter. Her exhibition entitled “Death and Paradise: Paintings of Gotland” reflect the experience of her recent stay on the Swedish island of Gotland. The history of Gotland so evident in the Bronze Age, Viking and Medieval ruins a strong presence in these new paintings by Gallagher. The many and varied panels reflect images of the history of landscape of the island. The viewer need not know the history of Gotland, however, to understand the work. The images in these paintings are intended to discuss the concept of the death of Arcadia. The work is also a discussion of life, death, and regeneration on the earth and the imprint and imposition of our culture on the earth. While representational in approach these works are more expressionistic than “realistic”. In “Death and Paradise: Paintings of Gotland” Gallagher leaves us with her impression of Gotland while revealing a new dimension of herself as a painter.