Julyan Davis "Elephant Ride" Lithograph

From Julyan Davis: "A good part of the work I have done over the past 35 years has been a kind of documentation in paint. Hundreds of places I have painted have since disappeared – due to neglect or demolition. In a way, my paintings of the mountain state fair in Asheville fit into this category. For a painter, the subject offers not just strong abstraction and vivid color, but also a kind of ‘Ash Can School’ opportunity for social commentary.”

Julyan has been painting vanishing America for over 30 years. This series of lithographs was conceived as a return to the subject of the Asheville Mountain State Fair. We talked a lot about the history of printmaking (especially lithography) and how to build a graphic narrative image in the flat forms of printmaking. The images generate a sense of nostalgia while showcasing his incredible drawing skill.

These prints were co-published with the artist and Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in Asheville, NC.