Quotation with a Twister

James McGarrell

This image included in "Suite 15", 15 prints by 15 artists celebrating Tamarind's 15th birthday. This impression is a trial proof, with an extra tornado, aside from the edition of 70.

James McGarrell combines classical with surreal in this depiction of a still-life in preparation for painting against the backdrop of a lush Tuscan landscape, with everything loomed over by two technicolor tornadoes. McGarrell himself was born in the state of Indiana - part of North America’s tornado country - and spent a good deal of time in Italy on various studies abroad.

In this stunning, painterly trial proof lithograph, made in honor of the 15th anniversary of the Tamarind Lithography Workshop’s opening, he has drawn two tornados, one of which he would later remove for the regular edition of 70 impressions. In the “remarques” in the borders of the image there appears to be the remnants of post-twister destruction, with still-life items all askew.