Two new Paintings by Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw’s ‘Madonnas of the Boombox’ are a pair of paintings completed in 2024. Although the images are mirrored, each painting is unique and different. Painted with acrylic on canvas, the paintings explore different technical aspects of paint, color and texture while being precisely composed with geometric metaphor, and crisp cultural commentary.
The RED painting features a figure painted with vibrant opaque cadmium colors, subtle glazing, metallic effects, and a high gloss background of metallic gold glazed over natural sienna. The halo is created with red crystal rhinestones and creates a glowing effect from viewing angles.
The BLUE painting has a thick coarsely textured background that radiates with the figure’s halo. Contrasting the texture, smooth, deeply glazed blue robes can appear both brilliant and saturated, or subtle and dark. The skin of the “Black Madonna”, is delicately glazed in gold over a black pearl base.
From the artist:
“ I was looking for some lighter subject matter when I decided to create the two ‘Madonna of the Boombox’ paintings. I’ve always had an interest in technology’s rapid obsolescence and how quickly familiar objects can change, or disappear altogether. The boombox is a great example. With an instantly recognizable iconic form, coupled with a size that lends itself to being cradled, the ‘Madonna of the Boombox’ was probably an overdue addition to my roster of modern icons. I decided to dive into tradition a bit and paint a “Black Madonna”, a somewhat rare and interesting form of icon. I also decided to use 3 arms on the figures – amazingly, this is also a traditional form, and seems perfect for holding a boombox.”
Each painting is acrylic on canvas with rhinestones. 30″ x 40″
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The Painted Edition of Saint Javelin consists of five, hand-painted, signed & numbered Saint Javelin icons, painted by Chris Shaw. Each painting is unique while retaining Saint Javelin’s precise original form, proportions and color. The icon’s figures are painted with saturated acrylic color glazes over a custom ground of glass on board, giving the icon texture, a dimensional effect, and colors a subtle translucency. The colors used in this edition of five were also painstakingly matched to the original Saint Javelin painting. Saint Javelin’s halo tridents shine with 24-karat gold leaf, while hand-made silver and pearl paints embellish the figure’s rich green robes. Each figure is completed with precise brushwork using a rich gloss black that brings Saint Javelin to life, empowering her piercing brown eyes while she effortlessly holds her famous Javelin missile launcher.
The Saint Javelin icon’s gold backgrounds consists of multiple layers of metal leaf and rich amber varnishes applied over a wooden panel. Each icon’s gold background and sides have been finished with a craqueleur treatment, further giving the paintings their own unique character and transforming the art into a unique object that can be viewed from multiple angles.
Each painted Saint Javelin icon has been signed by the artist on the front, and include a title, edition number, and artist’s signature on the back of the panel.
Saint Javelin
Chris Shaw
18” x 24” Acrylic with Glass, Gold, and metal leaf, on wood panels
Edition of Five
2022
The purpose of the Saint Javelin Painted Edition is to raise funds for relief in Ukraine. The paintings will be released exclusively through www.SaintJavelin.com – release info will be posted here as it becomes available.
From the artist:
“As I have watched Saint Javelin propagate online, and among the countless stickers and shirts, I wanted my Saint Javelin paintings to stand apart as unique, hand-made objects. Like my original Saint Javelin icon, conceptually and technically, I chose to use gold and metal leaf, combined with custom mixed colors. I gave the image further depth using textures and deep glazing – all things that can not be produced digitally or printed. The art has been painted on thick wood panels to enhance the dimensionality of the art as a real world object. Painted over two months, the paintings were completed in early November 2022.
“It’s been a privilege to partner with SaintJavelin.com and Christian Borys to produce the Painted Edition of 5 original Saint Javelin icons – it’s a high honor to use my art to help raise funds for Ukraine”
– Chris Shaw
An original Saint Javelin painting by Chris Shaw is currently on exhibit through February 2023 at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO, USA.
From the exhibit:
“This popular and moving contemporary painting became an online phenomenon in March 2022 as a symbol for the Ukrainian resistance movement. Mass production and public consumption of images of Christian saints in the environment of war began in WWI, and this unique temporary exhibition will display Saint Javelin in the context of historical prints from the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s collection.”
More info: www.theworldwar.org
Learn more about Saint Javelin, and religious icons in war HERE .
From the artist:
“My first painting of Sant Javelin was large and on canvas, I felt limited with some materials I was able to use, and also felt that I wanted to create the image at a more intimate size. I decided to create an icon on wood, and to create something that was both image and object. Perhaps as an artist’s reaction to Saint Javelin’s viral propagation as a digital image – I wanted the real-world art to be textured, dimensional, and used special colors with rich gold leaf, all things that cant be reproduced digitally or in print. The icon was painted over two months, completed in late June 2022.
“It’s a honor to have Saint Javelin on exhibit at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, I love that she can be seen by so many people and that the art continues to provoke discussion.” – Chris Shaw
Special thanks to Patricia Cecil and the National WWI Museum and Memorial for facilitation of this exhibit, and Christian Borys for his generous loan of the art.
Saint Javelin
18” x 24” Acrylic with glass on board, gold and metal leaf, on wood panel
2022
Social media photos: @GhostIn_TheCity via Twitter
