Lemons from David the Giant, 2006 —
Lemons from David the Giant is as literal as its name suggests, inspired by lemons mailed to Schwartz by her seven-foot-tall friend, David, from her former home in San Francisco. In her first year living in New York, David shipped her the entire bounty from his lemon tree beneath which they had spent many afternoons together. The lemons quickly overtook her studio, spilling across the space, demanding her attention. Schwartz couldn’t help but paint them.
These paintings serve as an homage to David and the deep reverence for all living things he shared with Schwartz. Within the context of her broader body of work, the naturalism in these paintings acts as a grounding force amidst an oeuvre animated by vivid, sensory experiences. The lemons, simple yet abundant, anchor her practice in the tangible, offering a quiet counterbalance to the layered, expansive nature of her other series.
For more information about David Cameron Strachan read his recently published memoir: "Memoir of a Reluctant Giant"
