A Shatter of Camellia Blooms Arranged Themselves over Tom's Face

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During the pandemic, Raymond Grubb turned the camera inward, focusing on self-portraits as well as portraits of his partner of thirty-five years, Tom Thoune. Their pandemic routine included twice daily meditations, yoga, and several-mile walks--all aimed at quieting anxiety and encouraging creativity. During his walks, Grubb gathered plants in the neighborhood around their home in Charlotte, as well as from nearby Chantilly Ecological Preserve. He then composed images of himself and Thoune, often with the blooms or leafy branches covering or interacting with their faces and bodies. Grubb likens the weaving of plant and animal forms together to the painted margins of illuminated manuscripts, similarly once produced within the confines of cloisters.

Nine images from this developing series were displayed in the Van Every/Smith Gallery's 2021 exhibition "True Likeness." The beautiful, sometimes perplexing images of the two men provide access to the couple’s private life during a time of seclusion, mindfulness, contemplation, meditation, and repetition.

Van Every/Smith Galleries Blog, SEEN ON CAMPUS: RAYMOND GRUBB, by Isabel Smith ‘24