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Pencil on paper 23 x 15 in 58.4 x 38.1 cm Collection of the artist |
"One can discern a similar thought process in other drawings. Push by the Bridge, from 1977, presents a man clearly resembling Surls himself pushing a woman a swing before a massive tree rent with a giant gash. The bridge, symbol of connection, appears again behind the tree. Surls notes that the work brings together a number of real life experiences—a real bridge connected his house to the road, and during the wet months was constantly in danger of being submerged in water. The tree with the gash was on his property and he had indeed installed a swing in his woods. However, the drawing brings all these elements together to create a narrative which, Surls admits, has sexual overtones. These range from the art historical significance of the swing (Fragonard's swinging coquette comes to mind) to the gash on the tree which has unmistakably vaginal overtones. Brought together the elements here present an allegory of sexual desire and love between a man and a woman."
-Eleanor Heartney, from Splendora: A Love Story in the publication "James Surls: The Splendora Years, 177-1997."
