DUI mug shots inspire Reno woman's works of art

By Geralda Miller • gmiller@rgj.com • March 6, 2011

 


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Partridge has big hopes for the exhibit.

Although the Sierra Art Gallery exhibit only will have around 50 portraits, she said she intends to paint all the mug shots – 100 watercolors and 13 acrylics – for future exhibits.

Because Partridge believes in the communal aspect of art, she also invited about 15 people to use 12-by-12 inch Masonite panels to artistically display photos, texts and memories about how they were affected by a dui of substance abuse.

"That is going to be called Wall of Hope," she said. "It's supposed to be cathartic."

Free panels will be available throughout the exhibit for people to create a collage dealing with how they have been touched by dui and/or substance abuse. A community Wall of Hope workshop also is scheduled in the gallery on March 12.

"There's going to be a $25 fee, but I'm not going to turn anyone away," Partridge said. "

It's to cover materials and the location. As the show travels, which hopefully it will, that it will be different in every community and I will do a workshop in every community."

She'd like the exhibit to travel, especially to colleges, she said.

But she thinks her chances of selling the artwork are nil.

"They're certainly not going to sell," she said. "I'll take DUI No. 3."

Inner Beauty

Partridge said she found the distinctive qualities of each person and exaggerated that in the painting.

"What has really struck me is the beauty of each individual," she said.

"They don't look exactly like their mug shot. And when I'm actually painting their faces, I see this beautiful nose, or that this young man is perfectly proportioned on each side of his face.

"This one has tension in her neck and her jaw. She's totally drunk but she looks like a soccer mom."

And the watercolor medium, typically used in landscapes and still-life paintings of fruits and vegetables, softens pictures of people on their way to being behind bars.

"There was something about doing mug shots in this beautiful watercolor medium that was kind of a juxtaposition that I found interesting," she said.

"To use watercolor for something like this seemed kind of funny."

Artist Maria Partridge stands against a wall clad in portraits she painted from mug shots off the RGJ.com web site at her Reno studio on Feb. 14, 2011. An exhibit titled," Portraits ~ There but for the grace of God go I," is scheduled for March at the Sierra Arts Gallery. (Andy Barron/RGJ)

Artist Maria Partridge paints a portrait from mug a shots off the RGJ.com web site at her Reno studio on Feb. 14, 2011. An exhibit titled," Portraits ~ There but for the grace of God go I," is scheduled for March at the Sierra Arts Gallery. (Andy Barron/RGJ)

Artist Maria Partridge paints a portrait from mug a shots off the RGJ.com web site at her Reno studio on Feb. 14, 2011. An exhibit titled," Portraits ~ There but for the grace of God go I," is scheduled for March at the Sierra Arts Gallery. (Andy Barron/RGJ)

Maria Partridge's solo exhibit "Portraits: there but for the grace of god go I" is showing at the Sierra Arts Gallery March 7 to April 28.

Wall of Hope workshop at the Sierra Arts Gallery on March 12 from 10-2 p.m.
People can create art dealing with how they have been touched by DUI's and/or substance
abuse. There will also be an area in the gallery designated for display of the work.
Cost is $25, $10 for students and seniors, which includes materials.

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