John McNamara
  • John McNamara
  • Reference Material for Paintings
  • Painting Details
I investigate the relationship between painting and photography, making paintings that engage photography as a somewhat overt, but mostly painted element. Since the photography literally exists beneath the painting’s surface, there is a strange conceptual ambiguity, relational to the frozen moment of a person, place, or thing that lie underneath the interpretive nature of the painting process on top. Collage has a "time machine" aspect, which I mine to establish lines of conceptual meaning. The content of my work focuses on conceptions of transcendence, moments in popular culture, and sharable life realities. I consider my paintings to be open, investigative narratives. My hope is to provoke a sense of curiosity within the viewer, similar to the curiosity I feel when making a painting. I strive to make a painting that has visual and perceptual engagement.     

A. "People Are Strange" 24" x 30" 2023

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B. "Meandering" 24" x 36" 2023

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C.  "Leslie" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022
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D. "Fear as a Conglomerative Pastiche" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

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E. "The Poetics of Less is More" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

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F. "Ambivalent Ideology" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

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G. "Transfixed" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022
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H.  "Encasement" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022
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I. "The Performance of a Lifetime" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

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A.
J.  “This Can’t be Happening; It’s not Real.” 24” x 36” Oil/Paper/Panel. 2021
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K.  "Backtracking" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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L. "Time Enough at Last" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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1. "Fabrication of an Illusion" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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    2. "Painters of the Past 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020
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 3. "The Scale of Expectation: The Value of Intent" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

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 4. "Velvet Underground" 30" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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5. "The Gift of Consciousness: The Challenge to Negotiate Meaning "30" X 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020  

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             6. Echoes of Remnants" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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7. "The Obsession to Feel 24"x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

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       8. “The Unforeseen and the Inevitable” 24” x 36” 2020

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                                                                                                                                         9. Minimalism's Maximalism 36" x 48" oil/paper/panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                             10. "Lost" 48" x 36" o/p/p 2018

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                                                                                                                                                                11.  "Unreal" 30" x 60" o/p/p 2018

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​                                                                                                                                                               12. "Kingdom" 40" x 60" o/p/p 2018

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                                                                                                                                                               13. "Cycle" 30" x 40" o/p/p 2017

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                                                                13 A "Where is Matthew Barrall?" 30" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2017

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                                                                                                   14. "Deep" 30" x 90" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                           15.  "The Idolatry of Longevity" 36" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                  16.  "Surveillance"40" x 30" Oil/Paper/Paint 2017                                                                                                        

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                                                                                                                                                                  17. "Fake" 24" x 36" o/p/p. 2020

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                                                                                                                                                                         18. "Whittling Down" 36" x 48" Oil/P/P  2020

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                                                                                  19. "The Gift" 36" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

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                                                                                                                       `                                20. "Optimism's Promise”  36" x 48" O/P/P 2019

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                                                                                                                                                          21. “Monsters” 36” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

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                                                                                                                                                    22. "Secular Sanctuary" 48 x 72 inches, oil/paper/panel 2019

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                                                                                                                                                              23. "Five of All" 24" x 36" Oil/P/Panel  2020

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                                                                          24. "Integrated Polarities" 30" x 40" o/p/p 2018    

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                                                                                                                                                                  25. "Glimmer" 36" x 48" o/Paper/panel 2019

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                                                                26. "Utilitarian Abstraction's Rebirth"  48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

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                                                                                                                                                         27. "Encroachment" 48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                             28. "Worlds" 30" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                         29. "Memory" 36" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                             30. "Compressed" 40" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2017

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                                                                                                                                                               31. "Century" 40" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

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                                                                                                                                                           32.  Faceoff "30" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2017

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                                                                                                                                                         33. “5.18.2016"  60" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2016

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                                                                                                                                                         34. “Possibilities” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2014

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                                                                                                                                      35. “Anticipation is Greater than Realization” 42” x 60” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

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                                                                                                                                                           36.“Apex” 30” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

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36A. "Apollonian Apex" 60" x 44" Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

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                                                                                                                                                               37. “White on Color” 48” x 60” 2011/12

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                                                                    38. “Climbing” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                                                 39. “The Conservator” 24” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                       40. “The Art World” 24” x 18” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

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                                                                    41.  "Moment" 48” x 40” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015 


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                                                              42. “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained” 9” x 12” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

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                                                                                                                                           43. " The Loss of Memory/The Inability to Forget " 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

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                                                                 44. “Utilitarian Abstraction” 30” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

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                                                                        45. The Conspiracy” 20” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

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                                                                                                                                                              46. “Running” 24” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

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                                                                        47. “Battle” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

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                                                                                                                                                                  48. “Unreal” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                                                                                                           49. “The Suitors” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                50. "The Showoff and the Introvert" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

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                                                                                                                                                51. "Beauty and the Beast” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                          52. “Wow” 36” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

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                                                                     53. “Safety” 24” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

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                                                                                                                                                           54. “Wise Ass” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                               55. “Exit 18 – Vigil for Jay DeFeo” 30” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

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                                                                               56. “Monday” 20” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

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                                                                   57. “Bridges and Plumbing” 48” x 60” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013-14

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                                                                     58. "Anthroland" 48" x 40'  Oil/Paper/Panel 1998

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                                                                  59. "The Rigor of Facade" 36" x 80" Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

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                                                           60. "Let's Twist Again Like We Did Last Summer" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 1999

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                                                                   61. "Seduced Again" 45" x 80" Oil/Paper/Panel 2005

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                                                                                                                                                    62. "Death Valley" 12" x 12" Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

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                                                                                                                                                   63. "Transcendence" 44" x 36" Oil/Paper/ Panel 1998

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                                                                        64. “Flux” Oil/Paper/Panel 12” x 32” 2013


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                                                                      65. "Larry's Place" 48" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

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                                                                                                                                                    66. "High Stakes” 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2003

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                                                                                            67. "Queen of the Feminists"  48" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2007

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                                                                     68.. "Philosophy" 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

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                                                                                                                                      69. "Fifty Times the Area" 30" x 47" Oil/Paper/Panel 1996

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                                                                                                                         70. “The Collapse of Pretense” 48 x 80 in. (diptych) oil, paper on panel  2002

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                                                                                                                                                   71. "Real Light" 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

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                                                                72. "The Inextricable Hold" 40" x 48" oil/paper/on panel 2001

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                                                                   73. "Just Visiting"  24" x 20"  Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

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                                                                     74. ”Solitude” 48” x 65” Oil/Paper/Panel 2007

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                                                                    75. “J.W.X.W” 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018/19

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                                                                     76. "Breakdown" 48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 1998

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                                                                     77. “Tripping” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

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                                                                  78. “The Encounter” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

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                                                                                                                                                79. “Collapse” 48” x 40”  oil/paper/panel  2001

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                                                                   80. "Stay in Tonight" 17" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

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                                                                                         81. "Series of Fifteen Paintings/ 2004/Shown in Studio"

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  82. "SPEED AND COMPRESSION" 24"X48" OIL/Paper/Panel 2003

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83. "SECOND MORTGAGE" 24"X48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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84. "Intersection" 24" X 48" Oil/Panel/Panel 2004

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85. "Seduced" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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86. "Asleep at the Wheel" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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87. "Gaming" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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88. "It's What's Under the Hood That Counts" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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89. "The Inextricable Hold" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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90. "THE LONG SHOT" 24"X48" OIL/PANEL 2004

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91. "The New Sculpture" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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92. "Echo" 24"x48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004 

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93. "Duped" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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94. "Unreal" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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95. "Leveled" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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     96. "Lights Out" 42"x48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

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                              97. “Where the First Kiss Leads” Oil/Paper/Panel 48” x 40” 1999

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                                                                       98. "The Trail of Seduction" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

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                                                                                                       99. "Untitled" - (after Richard Hamilton and Robert McHale) 23 3/4" x 23 3/4"  Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

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                                                                                                                100. “Oculus" 20" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

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                                                                                                          101. "The Clan" (an installation of 15 paintings) Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-2009   Total Area 9'1" X 15'3"

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                                                                             "Party Girl" 24" x 16" 2004

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                                                                  "Transfusion" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-09

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         "Connected" 24" x 16" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-09

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                                                                       "True Love" 24" x 16" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008     

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                                                                    "Suckling" 16 1/2" x 13 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                         "Tripping" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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                                                                                 "Afterlife" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

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                                                                                                                                             "Target Girl" 18" x 18 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                                "The Changing Room" 24" x 15 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                        "True Lust" 12" x 11 3/4" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                "Bad Dreams" 18 1/2" x 11" - 18 1/4" x 11 1/4" Oil/Paper/Panel

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                                                                        "Solitude" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                         "Nature" 11 1/2" x 16 3/4" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

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                                                                     "Cathedral" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004/08

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                                               102 - "Ten Moments of the 20th Century" 48" x 120" (Grouping) Each painting 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

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                                                           1. Bruce McCandless jet packing untethered from Challenger spacecraft, 1984   

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                                                                                     2. a solitary corpse in Sarajevo

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                                                                                                                                         3. Christopher Reeves filming first superman movie, 1978                       

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                                                                       4. girls wearing mini dresses, 1969

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                                                              5. 1969 Woodstock Music Festival revival, mud and rain, 1996 

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                                                                       6. Woodstock, NY, commune, 1970 

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                                                                                                       7. first launch of space shuttle Columbia 1981 / Hollywood set of “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” 1965           

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                                                             8. Lennart Nilsson photographs inside the human womb, 4/30/65

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                                                                     9. petrol bombs thrown by Catholics in Belfast

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                                                                                                                                          10. Aloha Flight 243, fuselage rips apart at 24,000 ft., 1988

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                                                                                                                                                    103. "Empathy" 30" x 20" Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

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                                                                      "The Play" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

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  • John McNamara
  • Reference Material for Paintings
  • Painting Details