Raised along the banks of the Coosa River in Alabama, P. Hope Brannon grew up wading in the creek during the summer seasons, observing rocks, leaves, moss, and small animals. Internal Compass is from her Fossils of Time series, which recontextualizes the idea of place, land, artifacts, and human history. Described as “an evolutionary process and an experimental exploration of contemporary drawing through painting, color, and line,” the series draws on historical research and fossilized life forms, connecting them to contemporary culture and innovations. Composed of plaster, spackling compound, graphite, and layered paints and waxes, the surface of this abstract bas-relief recalls ancient petroglyphs and pictographs.
