THE JAZZ SERIES by ELENA HIATT HOULIHAN
The Jazz Series was inspired by a passage in Margaret Mead’s autobiography, Blackberry Winter. She described studying a tribal people who possessed synesthesia: an amazing transference of the senses in which hearing a sound causes one to see color. I decided to perform an artistic experiment. Could I develop the ability to see colors when I heard sounds? When I went out to listen to jazz, I would close my eyes and absorb the music in a near meditative state. A quick sketch on a napkin in a jazz cafe in San Francisco became a brilliant red painting, Rhythm Sweet and Hot. The plaintive notes of “Good Night, Sweetheart,” a haunting sax solo, inspired Night Wailin’. Each large painting began as a thumbnail sketch, and each remains remarkably true to the concept of the miniature. Musical shapes were translated into paint on canvas or enamel on steel with collaged elements of handmade Japanese paper. Panels are suspended from angled bars hung from the ceiling to create what I call “mixed-media paintings.” One-third of the purchase price will be donated to the Jazz Program at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild.
BEATIN' THE BLUES
Acrylic on canvas, Japanese paper, wood "drum sticks". 9' H x 6' W.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
DETAIL: BEATIN' THE BLUES
Close-up of Japanese hand-made paper collaged onto painting.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT
Acrylic on canvas, Japanese paper, wood hanging bar. 8' H x 6' W. .
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
DETAIL OF RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT
Japanese paper, painted and collaged on canvas.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
LIGHTNING DRUMMER, SITE VIEW
Inapired by Pittsburgh drummer, Roger Humphries. Acrylic on canvas, painted Japanese paper, wood hanging bar. Viewed in my former dining room in Pittsburgh.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
LIGHTNING DRUMMER
Inspired by Pittsburgh drummer, Roger Humphries. Acrylic on canvas, painted Japanese paper, wood hanging bar. Viewed in my former dining room in Pittsburgh.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingRoger HumphriesElena Hiatt Houlihan
NIGHT WAILIN'
Acrylic on canvas, Painted Japanese paper, Wood hanging bar. 8' H x 6' W. Inspired by Eddie Shaw playing Sax on "Goodnight Sweetheart, it's time to go." Site view in my former living room/gallery in Pittsburgh.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
NIGHT WAILIN': DETAIL
DETAIL: Acrylic on canvas, Painted Japanese paper, Wood hanging bar. 8' H x 6' W. Inspired by Eddie Shaw playing Sax on "Goodnight Sweetheart, it's time to go."
abstract paintingjazzsax solomusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT II
Acrylic enamel on steel. 5'H x 5'W.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT II
RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT II, acrylic enamel on steel, in my former kitchen in Pittsburgh.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlhan
BLUES IN THE NIGHT
Acrylic on canvas with collaged elements of painted Japanese paper, wood. 6'H x 5'W. Inspired by "Come in Blues, Sit Down."
abstract paintingjazzbluesmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
UP A LAZY RIVER
Acrylic enamel on steel. Inspired by Patricia Barber singing Up a Lazy River at the Gold Star Submarine Bar in Chicago. 8'W x 4'H.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia painting
AFRICAN RHYTHMS
Hand-tooled copper, Japanese silver paper, acrylic on canvas. Inspired by the African roots of blues and jazz.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan
FLUTE VOICES
Acrylic on canvas, Japanese silver paper, Chrome-covered bar. 8'H x 6'W.
abstract paintingjazzmusiccontemporary artmixedmedia paintingElena Hiatt Houlihan