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“Go and do the best you can”—Oil on canvas 60×72
Inspired
by traditional folk song “Little Maggie,” which is part of a family of white blues songs found in the Appalachian region in the late 1800s. “Little Maggie” has been recorded by artists including the Stanley Brothers, The Kingston Trio, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs. “DARK CORNERS: THE APPALACHIAN BALLAD” PAINTINGS OF THE SOUTH BY JULYAN DAVIS
AT GREENVILLE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART, SC.
STUNNING EXHIBIT RUNS MAY 5 THROUGH JULY 1
EXHIBIT TO CONTINUE TO MORRIS MUSEUM IN AUGUSTA, GA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENVILLE,
South Carolina –British artist Julyan Davis has painted the South for more than twenty years—empty rooms in abandoned mansions, state fairs, vanishing scenes from the Outer Banks to the Delta. Now, the Greenville County Museum of Art showcases his exciting new focus on Appalachian love songs and murder ballads. “Has Such “Sometimes “As
“Where the Sun refuse to shine”—Oil on Canvas 40×64
Inspired
by “Dark Hollow,” a song written around 1958 by West Virginian Bill Browning, front man of the rockabilly band Echo Valley Boys. The song was made famous by the Grateful Dead in 1973.
Followers
of Davis’ career describe his paintings as being haunted by a human presence—empty places that somehow told a story. With “Dark Corners” the power of his imagery, and the mystery of narrative are amplified in these large, cinematic canvases. “I paint my life,” Davis says, “Whether we write songs or paint pictures, as artists we have a great gift – an outlet for our emotions. I am grateful for that.” Julyan
“By her lily white hand” — on canvas 36×38
Inspired
by 19th century murder ballad “Banks of Ohio.” The first recording of the song was by Red Patterson’s Piedmont Log Rollers in 1927. It has been recorded many times since then by artists including The Carter Family, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Doc Watson, Joan Baez and Olivia Newton-John.
“She looked East, She looked West”— Oil on canvas 36×38
Inspired
by traditional folk song, “The Ballad of Barbara Allen.” The song was first printed in England around 1750 and made its way to Appalachia in the mid-1800s. “Barbara Allen,” as it is also known, has been recorded by many artists including Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkle, The Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton and The Everly Brothers. Johnny Cash re-wrote lyrics to the song, performed it live at Austin City Limits in 1987 and renamed it “The Ballad of Barbara.”
“Would you take me unkind?”—Center panel triptych Oil on canvas 40×108
Inspired
by murder ballad “Pretty Polly,” also known as “The Gosport Tragedy” or “The Cruel Ship’s Carpenter.” The ballad is a traditional English folk song found in the British Isles, Canada and the Appalachian region of the American South. Recorded by artists including David “Stringbean” Akeman, The Byrds, Judy Collins, Ralph Stanley, Dock Boggs, and Yonder Mountain String Band.
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