Mark Smith

An Intimate City

2004, Printed fabric, paper tissue, and acrylic paint on canvas

96 x 240 inches

An Intimate City is located on the wall above the central staircase that connects the more public lower floor with the departmental offices on the second floor. This major work addresses the issue of collective survival, or the qualities associated with being a member of society. In the center of the piece is a cross section of a termite mound, representing an organized community. Surrounding this mound are silhouettes of heads, all facing toward the mound. The remainder of the painting contains silhouettes of figures cut from newspapers by Smith during the two years of the commission. These figures are cut from recycled fabrics, some from clothing discarded by Lewis & Clark students.