Sunset Valley is an imaginary neighborhood centered around playful interior design and features common addictions that are often overlooked. Utilizing acrylic paint, this series of six paintings use distinct muted colors and subtle objects to bring attention to substance abuse, as it comes in many different forms and evokes strong emotions. The intent is to shed light on those who struggle despite having an enriched lifestyle or home. In return, this urges more individuals to check in on the ones they care about, even if it seems as though they are doing well. Being that this series is a group of neighboring houses, they are placed in a grid to resemble a neighborhood. Each piece within this series is 11” x 17” framed and displayed in the Dishman Art Museum in a 3 x 3 grid sequence, so they are viewed as a whole.
-Emily Bryan