01 Do I Know You?
R.L. Gibson
16” x 20”
Xerography (mixed media)
2014

02 But Now I See
R.L. Gibson
16” x 20”
Xerography (mixed media)
2014

“In one year, my father died in a crash due to complications of diabetes; I had two surgeries reserved for women 20 years my senior; and I became the guardian for my 92-year-old Grandmother Emma, in the end stages of dementia. In the throes of dementia, my grandmother would ask, ‘Do I know you?’ And as I began to visit all of my familial ghosts, one by one, I realized this is the same question I now ask of myself.  Dementia, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer– these are my inheritance delayed. The tragic circumstances, the almost laughable irony, the wrong of it all, for the all of them, and for the all of me, threatened to cripple the all of everything. Then resolution. This work was borne out of resolution–everyone dies. The best we can hope for is a few good photos and a really good story about how we got to the end. Smile. Everyone dies.” –R.L. Gibson

“Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath

Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.”

William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet (V.iii. 101-102)

R.L. Gibson is a contemporary artist living & working “on vacation” on a mountain-top in Tennessee with work in galleries from New York to Los Angeles. Gibson is best known for her work as a Xerographist, but she is currently working on commissioned illustrations for multiple publications, a new mixed media series entitled “Better than Figs” (paint & xerography) & several collaborations in addition to teaching professional development workshops and being both the Editor of artanddartdeadlines.com, a quirky food-themed art site, and one-half of the touring Americana duo known as the Pea Pickin’ Hearts. Never waste a moment.

For a list of exhibits & professional artist engagements, please visit rlgibson.com