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Multitudes of Madonnas by Rose M. BaronPlease join us on Friday, May 31st from 7:30 pm to 10 pm for the opening reception of Multitude of Madonnas, photographs by Rose M. Baron in whitespec at whitespace. Barron’s work examines religious imagery as a way of expressing ideas and concepts that lie well beyond the bounds of faith and spirituality. Multitude of Madonnas focuses on the Virgin Mary, the most visible and iconic of all Christian women and the most portrayed woman in the canon of art history. She represents the quintessence of female value, virtue, beauty, and purity.

Through her investigation and reinterpretation of Madonna iconography, Barron explores what it means to be a woman, both historically and within a contemporary context. She recreates iconic depictions of the Virgin Mary, using modern women, women who are challenged by the traditional conventions of womanhood, societal expectations of beauty and sexuality, and the struggle for balance between financial success, independence and family. In these works, Barron uses elaborate hand-constructed sets, emphasizing both the lushness and superficiality of fabric, fruit, or skin. Her subjects are real, candid people (often friends) with imperfections, which creating tension when juxtaposed with the sacred and religious iconography that they reference.

Rose Barron currently works and resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She has a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia, an MA in Photo Concentration from Georgia State University, and recently graduated with an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Photography. Her work has been exhibited in several solo exhibitions across the southeast including Atlanta and Huntsville, as well as internationally at the Espacio Común in Panaman City, Panama. Baron has shown in many group exhibitions across the nation includingThe Athens Center for Contemporary Art, The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center,Fe Gallery in Pittsburgh, and Umbrella Gallery in New York City. Her work is included in several private and public collections including the Four Seasons in Morocco, the Marriott Courtyard in Nashville, the March of Dimes Corporate Office Collection, the APG Collectors Portfolio, and the MOCA Educational/Resource Center.