Meet Mary Bruns

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Bruns.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in 1950 in a small farming community of Brunsville, Iowa. My great grandmother owned the land that the railroad purchased and they named the town of 142 after her. I went to a country school that flourished until I was in the seventh grade. I had one person plus myself in the class. I produce oil paintings that are as photographically real as I can make them. There are no photographic transfers, tracing or projection work. I refer to photographs and still life objects to produce the pieces that you see. I paint in a glaze over glaze technique as the Old Masters painted.

I have a Master of Art in Printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting, both from California State University, Los Angeles, California. I have exhibited in several cities in the United States for over forty-five years and am included in the permanent collection of art at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta, Georgia. I have articles of recognition from the City of Los Angeles for outstanding citizenship and activities enhancing the community, better known as the “Cross Pollination Project”. Diversity of ethnic groups and individual insights were published in pictorial posters and distributed all over the United States.

Please tell us about your art.
I am an artist using split imagery as a means of expression. The activity of one side of the painting or drawing is filled with the thoughts, activities and memories which best describe the separate and solo image whose full image is juxtaposed next to it. I call my painting “collective realism” as it is a chief means of visual energy to satisfy and explain a situation, a life, an encounter or human dilemma, the same way a theater visit gives explanations and insights.

I never use transfers, only a hand painted glaze technique. I use a glaze over glaze technique as the old Masters did. At no time are transfers ever used. I work with storytelling, narratives, enhanced by the historical meaning of flowers, people or images describing the still life. Down through the age’s flowers have substituted as a metaphor for feelings, passions, love, hatred, anger and innocence. I peruse antique pieces of art and learn from them. Place yourself within the still life paintings and see what image you would have put on the adjacent side. My choices of flowers, people and images blends the feelings and ideology that I have attached to each still life. The images help to tell a story, while the adjacent image expounds upon it.

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Existence as an artist has been extremely hard since the economic fall began. Art just stopped being purchased.
To get represented was impossible. I now feel like the economy is coming back on track. I pray that it is for all of
the talent that sits out there. We have a good support system here. Diversity of what is shown does need to be improved. Even with a good resume it is hard to be seen.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have work displayed at the Sonoran Arts League main building in Stagecoach Village, 7100 E Cave Creek Rd #144, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. Work is also displayed at the El Pedregal, 7100 E Cave Creek Rd #144, Cave Creek, AZ 85331.
Work is represented by 60 West Gallery, 901 West Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, AZ. I also do business on my website: https://www.marybruns.com/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marybruns.com/
• Phone: 480-862-9757
• Email: marybrunsfineart@gmail.com
• Instagram: marybruns
• Facebook: mary bruns
• Twitter: marybruns1

 

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