BELTZ, Eric

Description

Medusa's Scarecrow Crown, preparatory sketch for Cave of Treasures
Graphite on bristol board
15 5/8 x 17 3/4" SHEET
Receiving his MFA from UC Santa Barbara in 2004, Eric Beltz is often referred to as a “visual essayist.” Using myths, religious symbolism and history to inform his artistic narrative, Beltz creates intricately detailed works suggesting complex stories. In this work, Medusa’s scarecrow crown, completed in 2014, demonstrate Medusa’s beauty as a goddess. In Eric’s scarecrow crown, she wears the souls of men that were born through seduction giving her a feminine power to turn men into stone while the snakes represent her punishment and seduction towards Poseidon by Athena. Bristol board is often used by Beltz as it provides an excellent drawing support surface holding graphite stronger than paper; it provides a smooth finish supporting detail and fine lines while darkened areas become more visible. On reverse center, signed, dated with title MEDUSA'S SCARECROW CROWN.

Date

2014

Creator

BELTZ, Eric
b. United States, 1975

Source

Museum purchase

Identifier

2015.014.002

Citation

BELTZ, Eric and b. United States, 1975, “BELTZ, Eric,” UCSB ADA Museum Omeka, accessed October 5, 2024, http://art-collections.museum.ucsb.edu/items/show/4489.