Marcia Coppel's paintings are influenced by the color and spontaneity of Mexico. She loves to sketch in restaurants, cafes and on the beach. Her May 2017 solo, Connect/Disconnect 2, is about communication and the lack of it in today’s digital culture. The interactions (or isolation of individuals in the same space) could have been situated anywhere in the world. But since she loves Mexico and spends a lot of time there, she made drawings and paintings situated in that country.
People on the beach aren't talking to each other. Some are floating in the air of their own imaginations. Smart phones aren't shown but they are alluded to. The colors are lush and the people are amusing but, in many of the paintings actual conversations among those present is absent. However, In other paintings people are enjoying conversations. Since Marcia was a speech pathologist in her pre-artist life, she is disappointed when people are tapping on their phones instead of enjoying the people they are surrounded by.
Visit Touchstone Gallery to see Connect/Disconnect 2 and decide for yourselves what kind of communication is going on in her bright tropical inspired paintings and simplified drawings of nudes languishing on the beach. Touchstone Gallery from May 3-28. Wed-Fri 11-6 and Sat-Sun 12-5. Opening Reception is Friday, from 6-8:30 pm. Encore Reception Saturday, May 20, 1 - 3 pm; 901 New York Ave NW, Washington DC 20001; http://www.touchstonegallery.com ; info@touchstonegallery.com
