Pearle Northrop

Artist Statement
It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started taking what I do seriously and it took even longer to consider myself an artist. I love to paint whatever I can get my hands on from things as small as a Scrabble® piece to as big as a dresser and hopefully even bigger someday. Whatever it is I will paint it. I love transforming trash into treasure literally. Imagine that a chair that came from a dumpster (2006) made it into a museum (2009). It blows me away to think that something I did creates a sense of awe in a viewer’s eye.
I was talking to a friend a few years back about my love for furniture, my relationship with chairs in particular. There was a chair that I found discarded and ultimately forgotten. I came upon this chair accidentally. I wasn't looking for a relationship. Anyway, the chair was a very handsome chair with so many things to look at. His back was decorative; his arms were long and lean. His legs...I have never seen such beautiful legs. But he was beaten down. His self-esteem had long been worn out. His seat, which was repeatedly upholstered over years, was torn and faded. His stuffing was busting out revealing his age and loss of pride. Me, being a care taker and rescuer of sorts....picked up the chair and brought it home. He sat at the top of the stairs for a few weeks in a corner. My friends however saw this chair and commented on how ugly he was. They wondered why I had him in my home commenting on how dirty he was and how unattractive he was due to the years of neglect. I ignored them and kept him around. Finally one day I decided to put him on my coffee table and take the layers of cloth and wool stuffing off of his seat. Then I cleaned him, primed him and painted him black. Three months later I sat back and looked at him and this is what I saw.....A chair, a man restored...but not only restored but given a whole new purpose. He was beautiful again. He was unique and wonderful....The same chair that my friends were grossed out by....is now a chair that they ask permission to touch. Amazing.....One thing is for certain...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME! Change is inevitable and what is ugly or dirty or discarded as trash can be saved, can be rescued and can be made shinier than new!
Taking discarded forgotten pieces and giving them their self-esteem back is a passion for me. Living in a world where we discard things so easily I’d like to think I am making an itty bitty difference.
Pearle Northrop

Friday, April 2, 2010

An Ode to Pearle...Written by: Kim Hillard

 

 
Today I received a wonder email from a friend. She is a poet. I was lucky enough to be invited to hear her read a couple weeks ago at Gallery 55 , an Art Gallery here in Natick. 

I was very pleased that Kim shared with me a poem about me. This is incredibly special to me....as so is my developing friendship with Kim. Thank you! 

Inspired by your painting...


Kimberly Hillard 
hey Pearle - this is for you! I was inspired by your painting. I hope you like this!

Ode to Pearle

She sees the world in patterns
Swirling, dancing, flowing
Filling her thoughts with design.

She lifts the brush and dabs -
Dots, wisps, textures emerge,
Beauty exploded, fantastical.

She paints, mesmerizing;
Detailed, intricate, tiny
Each stroke deliberate.

She is vibrant and radiant.
An artist without doubt.
Not a diamond in the rough -
A Pearle!
Copyright 2010 Kimberly Hillard
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