lrsMerriamCal idx3 Daniel Merriam

The presented visual material showcases a calendar for the year 2004, featuring works by Daniel Merriam. The layout arranges nine individual paintings in a grid-like structure, each framed and accompanied by alphanumeric identifiers suggesting their digital file names.
Here we see a recurring aesthetic characterized by dreamlike imagery, rich color palettes dominated by golds, browns, and deep greens, and an overall sense of narrative ambiguity. The compositions frequently employ perspective shifts and unusual juxtapositions that contribute to the surreal atmosphere.
The painting in the upper left corner depicts a winged figure, seemingly an angel or celestial being, enveloped in what appears to be shimmering dust or light. This evokes themes of loss, fragility, and perhaps spiritual yearning. To its right, a portrait-like composition presents a man with elaborate headwear, his expression enigmatic and his gaze directed outward. The surrounding details – a collection of objects seemingly suspended in space – suggest a world governed by idiosyncratic rules.
The painting at the top right portrays a Victorian-era house bathed in autumnal light, with falling leaves creating a sense of melancholy and transience. Below this, a vertical composition features a figure standing before an ornate gate, hinting at thresholds, transitions, and guarded secrets. The central image displays a woman cradling a butterfly or moth, its wings intricately patterned; the scene conveys tenderness, vulnerability, and the delicate balance between life and death.
The lower right painting presents a cluttered interior space filled with antique furniture, books, and various objects – a visual representation of accumulated memories and personal history. The remaining two paintings continue this exploration of fantastical narratives and symbolic imagery.
Subtexts within these works appear to revolve around themes of memory, loss, the passage of time, and the interplay between reality and imagination. Merriam’s style suggests a deliberate blurring of boundaries – between dream and waking life, past and present, tangible objects and intangible emotions. The calendar format itself implies a cyclical nature, reinforcing the idea that these narratives are recurring motifs within the artists creative output.