Setting the Stage

The title of the piece, Setting the Stage, is the idea of piece. In the lobby of a theater, the viewer is invited to step into the stage and explore the set, the costumes, the actors and the magic of theater.

I knew the basic structure of the painting before I started, but was very influenced by the costumes that I borrowed from the Children's Theater. They "set the stage" for the whole painting. The costumes in the dressing room find their way on and off the stage.

The proscenium and mirrors act like a frame and also increase the illusion of a stage. The mirrors on both sides of the piece, literally, put the viewer into the play. The logistics for making such a big piece were quite pragmatic. The overall size was based on the dimensions  plywood and the size of the elevator.–Artist statement