Talent above pretentiousness

~ Megan Thrower creates new art from the heart for her solo show

Often in art, it is as though the abstract holds its hand over our eyes to hide the real. In her paintings, Megan Thrower forces open its fingers, giving us a peek of where the two are joined.

"I'm into mechanical stuff," Thrower said. "I'm interested in how things are made, how things work. I draw diagrams in my pieces and use them to show how we interact with each other and how that translates."

In turn, Thrower's paintings themselves becomes diagrams, detailing where things intersect -- like where something deeply intimate and personal crosses something to which all of us can relate. They are the result of virtually boundless raw talent, finely honed technique and, most importantly, the confidence of an artist burdened neither by delusion nor doubt. Absent is the hesitant, "testing the waters" feel typical of many young artists' pieces. These are the calling cards of a powerful creative mind that is aware of its potential and in full command of its abilities.

Also refreshingly absent is arrogance. There is nothing high-falutin' about Thrower, who says art is what she does the same way an auto mechanic or a tax adjuster would discuss their jobs -- casually, without a hint of pretension.

Some might call it a waste of perfectly good bragging rights. After all, she was part of the team that painted the Mississippi River Tales mural in downtown Cape Girardeau. On top of that, Thrower recently completed a large-scale project of her own -- a 40-foot mural in the office of Drs. David Johnson and Jayne Scherrman. She said both projects presented unique challenges and afforded her invaluable experience and rewarding fulfillment.

"Working on the Mississippi River Tales mural was unbelievable," Thrower said. "It was a blessing, and it wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for Craig Thomas."

She also was grateful for the opportunity to watch the other mural painters work, as well as to learn about the regional history being brought to life. The doctors' office mural allowed her to expand her repertoire even more, as it featured paintings of animals.

"I'm so happy with it," she said.

Although Thrower's work has assumed a permanent place in Cape Girardeau, and has hung alongside that of members of the local artist co-op and her colleagues in Integrated Counterbalance alike, this is her debut solo opening. Every piece is new.

In these paintings, Thrower's brushstrokes reflect the nuanced complexity of her personality. They express a striking spectrum of boldness and subtlety. Sometimes they giggle, other times they tremble but at all times they are unashamed. The canvases contain and preserve her essence like the 35mm film negatives that imprison the superstitious souls of people from our vacations. A few of the pieces sprang directly from her recent life trials, such as her father's illness.

"This," she said, motioning to a painting of two figures, side by side, one covering the other's eyes with a hand, "comes from the idea of my mom and dad driving back and forth to Barnes Hospital, driving blindly, knowing the way all too well."

Those particular pieces teeter on the very brink of composure, and while examining them, so do we.

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Just the facts

What: Megan Thrower art exhibition

When: Starts Feb. 3, opening reception 5 to 9 p.m.

Where: Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 32 N. Main St.

Info: 334-9233