Featured image: Dayroom/Curtiss, Don Weaver, 2023, mixed media on canvas, 48 x 32 in. / 121.92 x 81.28 cm.
Don Weaver's works challenge the observer to engage in an unconventional dialogue.
Don Weaver is a contemporary mixed media and watercolor artist known for surreal compositions that blend historical, architectural, and absurd elements. His works invite viewers to create their own interpretations through obscure puns and narrative ambiguity.
Through his mixed media and watercolor compositions, Weaver combines historical, architectural, and surreal elements, creating pieces that draw the viewer into a space of contemplation. His works are not meant to offer clear narratives; rather, they invite the audience to provide their own dialogue and engage with the obscure humor and references embedded in each scene. From military figures to cathedral interiors, Weaver's artistic vision plays with both the ordinary and the fantastical, positioning the observer as an active participant in the art’s meaning.
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Robert Graves, Don Weaver, 2021, mixed media on wood panel, 14 x 20 in. / 35.56 x 50.8 cm.
In Robert Graves, Don Weaver melds realism with abstraction to create a curious juxtaposition of a solitary figure and fragmented blocks of textured material. The man seated in the image is dressed in a yellow vest, giving him a distinct sense of character, yet he exists in a distorted space where objects defy physical logic. The blocks, seemingly detached from reality, could represent fragmented memories or disjointed timelines. The gaps between them, especially the one that obscures a standing figure, open up a dialogue about the erosion of identity and time. Weaver's use of mixed media creates a textural tension, prompting viewers to ponder the layers of meaning embedded in the work.
Dayroom/George, Don Weaver, 2022, watercolor on paper, 20 x 24 in. / 50.8 x 60.96 cm.
Dayroom/George is a surreal blend of military, domestic, and industrial elements, set against a backdrop of planes and human figures. The child wearing a gas mask evokes a sense of unease, contrasting sharply with the elderly figure seated calmly in a rocking chair. The checkerboard floor and arched windows introduce a dreamlike quality to the scene, yet the subtle puns and obscure references provide a humorous undertone that tempers the darker imagery. Weaver's watercolor technique softens the absurdity of the scene, allowing the audience to engage with its bizarre narrative in a more approachable way. The piece suggests a dissonance between historical moments and personal realities, leaving interpretation open to the viewer’s own experiences.
Douglass/Cathedral, Don Weaver, 2023, watercolor, 16 x 20 in. / 40.64 x 50.8 cm.
In Douglass/Cathedral, Weaver juxtaposes the grandeur of Gothic architecture with the intrusion of military aircraft, creating a visually striking and conceptually ambiguous scene. The plane’s flight through the cathedral’s nave creates a surreal dialogue between religious sanctity and the machinery of war. Weaver’s precise use of watercolor accentuates the dramatic contrasts in light and space, transforming the gothic arches into monumental frames for the military imagery. The presence of the aircraft introduces a sense of disruption—suggesting the intrusion of violence into peaceful spaces or the militarization of society's most sacred institutions. This work exemplifies Weaver’s talent for blending the serious with the absurd, leaving the viewer to contemplate the broader implications of this unlikely pairing.
Weaver’s ability to seamlessly blend humor, history, and surrealism in his art makes him a compelling voice in contemporary mixed media and watercolor painting. His works do not offer clear answers but challenge the audience to create their own interpretations and dialogues. In each piece, Weaver asks the viewer to confront the boundaries of reality and imagination, and to find meaning within the absurd. The lasting impact of his art lies in its capacity to entertain, provoke, and confuse in equal measure, making every viewing a unique experience.
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Cloisters/Sally, Don Weaver, 2020, mixed media on wood panel, 30 x 30 in. / 76.2 x 76.2 cm.
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