Kathy Kissik, King Tide, 2022

Mixed media

The King Tide series is inspired by my observations from over seventeen years of living in South Beach, Miami. The king tide is the highest predicted high tide of the year. During this period water levels are higher than that on an average day. In Miami Beach, the king tides usually occur during the months of September, October, and November. King tides provide a preview of the normal tidal variations we will see in the years to come as sea levels continue to rise.

The artwork features original manipulated photographs of South Beach Miami and the art deco buildings that make up its famed shoreline. The land however is missing. Potentially a future where all buildings are oceanfront until the tide rises and they are reclaimed. A J/boat appears intermittently throughout the collection. A reminder of mans adaptability as determined by necessity.

The photographs have been taken over the last 2 years. The constructivist style is informed by Impressionism in the depiction of shifting effects of light and color and combined with cubism in their fragmentation and assemblage. The water, skies, and buildings have all been pieced back together from many photos shot over time. These two elements have been an ongoing trademark of my creative process. The images are computer manipulated, hand tinted with photo oils, spray painted, and rendered into reimagined waterscapes. The large-scale masterpiece The Swim is a street inspired artwork taking its cues from tourism billboards and papering. The smaller intimate panel pieces have a vintage timeless postcard feel. Upon first glance the art feels welcoming. It is only when ones looks further that it is discovered the buildings are sinking. They days are numbered: a literal reference to provoke reflection. The layering of acrylic gels provides a depth and process that underscores the passage of time and fluidity of water. The hyper real shades juxtaposed against the color washed buildings create a dramatic tension belying the ideal ocean vistas. William Turners seascapes and his theme of man versus nature inform the narrative.