Artist:
G. Daniel Massad
(American, b. 1946)
Mi Sol Fa
Medium: Pastel on paper
Date: 2004
Dimensions:
41 × 11 1/2 in. (104.1 × 29.2 cm)
Accession number: 2010.16
Copyright: © G. Daniel Massad
Label Copy:
Daniel Massad’s work brims with layers of mythological, literary and personal references. Painstakingly rendered in pastel and viewed as if through a door, Massad’s weathered walls contain niches filled with objects that are both symbolic and mysterious. The title Mi Sol Fa is a play on words from the diatonic musical scale, meant to be read as "Me So Far." Essentially a self-portrait, the image is created by the artist out of specific aspects of his life and career. Included are elements—the tall mason jar, a shell casing, flower, and an apple—borrowed from earlier works and set into a stone wall made of the partial outlines of states in which Massad lived: Oklahoma, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas and Pennsylvania. Etched into the wall are initials of people that the artist loved and lost through the years.
Daniel Massad’s work brims with layers of mythological, literary and personal references. Painstakingly rendered in pastel and viewed as if through a door, Massad’s weathered walls contain niches filled with objects that are both symbolic and mysterious. The title Mi Sol Fa is a play on words from the diatonic musical scale, meant to be read as "Me So Far." Essentially a self-portrait, the image is created by the artist out of specific aspects of his life and career. Included are elements—the tall mason jar, a shell casing, flower, and an apple—borrowed from earlier works and set into a stone wall made of the partial outlines of states in which Massad lived: Oklahoma, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas and Pennsylvania. Etched into the wall are initials of people that the artist loved and lost through the years.
Curatorial RemarksMassad's work brims with layers of mythological, literary, and personal references, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. Painstakingly rendered in pastel and viewed as if through a door, Massad's weathered walls contain niches filled with objects mysterious and symbolic. The title "Mi Sol Fa" is a play on words from the diatonic musical scale, meant to be read as "Me So Far." Thus, this is essentially a self portrait. Massad built the image out of bits and pieces of his life and work. Included are elements--the tall mason jar, a shell casing, flower, and an apple--borrowed from his earlier works and set into a stone wall with partial outlines of states he has lived in: Oklahoma, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. Etched into the wall are initials of people Massad has loved and lost through the years. His mother's initials "VINC" appear as part of the Latin phrase "amor vincit omnia" (love conquers all), which the picture's edge reduces to "AMOR VINC OM.";Massad’s work brims with layers of mythological, literary, and personal references, transforming the
ordinary into something extraordinary. Painstakingly rendered in pastel and viewed as if through a door, Massad’s weathered walls contain niches filled with objects mysterious and symbolic.
The title "Mi Sol Fa" is a play on words from the diatonic musical scale, meant to be read as “Me So Far.” Thus, this is essentially a self portrait. Massad built the image out of bits and pieces of his life and work. Included are elements – the tall mason jar, a shell casing, flower, and an apple – borrowed from his earlier works and set into a stone wall with partial outlines of states he has lived in: Oklahoma, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. Etched into the wall are initials of people Massad has loved and lost through the years. His mother’s initials “VINC” appear as part of the Latin phrase “amor vincit omnia” (love conquers all), which the picture’s edge reduces to “AMOR VINC OM.”
ordinary into something extraordinary. Painstakingly rendered in pastel and viewed as if through a door, Massad’s weathered walls contain niches filled with objects mysterious and symbolic.
The title "Mi Sol Fa" is a play on words from the diatonic musical scale, meant to be read as “Me So Far.” Thus, this is essentially a self portrait. Massad built the image out of bits and pieces of his life and work. Included are elements – the tall mason jar, a shell casing, flower, and an apple – borrowed from his earlier works and set into a stone wall with partial outlines of states he has lived in: Oklahoma, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. Etched into the wall are initials of people Massad has loved and lost through the years. His mother’s initials “VINC” appear as part of the Latin phrase “amor vincit omnia” (love conquers all), which the picture’s edge reduces to “AMOR VINC OM.”