The latest body of work from Benaiah Cusack features bodies of water— tranquil distortions of water features from his favorite Indianapolis parks. Described as “calm and peaceful place-based art,” this series captures the “essence” of the lakes, streams, and fountains seen by Cusack, while transmitting a sense of grounding memory as well.

Frog Pond (Marian University), Oil on canvas, 24" x 20"

Place, more than a geographic location, often has embedded associations: the feeling of the air on a particular day, the smell, the person you were sitting with. Cusack offers a murky glimpse into that sense of place through abstract oil and acrylic. Like the title of the exhibit, “Places of Reflection” reveals more meaning upon second glance. The aquatic scenes, where one might go for a thought provoking walk or a quiet meditation, are also mirroring surfaces of the trees, light, and buildings above.

Watergarden Reflections (Rosie's Garden Center), Acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

Swimming dark, moody colors and a play of shadows create depth while, at the same time, warping perspective. The mysteriously ethereal waterscapes range from the swirling abstract to the nearly literal, but leave the viewer without assurance that the painting before them is an accurate view or if it is a reflection on the water’s surface.

Notably, however, they reflect no figures. Cusack’s paintings pull in a hint of the surreal as they portray the point of view from an invisible onlooker, whose omnipresent eye hovers above the water’s surface, as well as below and beneath it.

First Snow at White River (Broad Ripple Village), Acrylic on wood panel, 10" x 10"

“Places of Reflection” by Benaiah Cusack is on display in the Harrison Center’s City Gallery for the month of July. The exhibit can be viewed by appointment and in our online gallery, where all pieces are available for purchase.