Fog Series

Melissa Parhm

My studio practice is rooted in a synthesis of classical technical mastery and contemporary philosophical inquiry. The Fog Series, exemplified by Fog 1: Young Muir Men, explores the "architecture of fog" as both a meteorological phenomenon of the Bay Area and a metaphor for the nature of reality itself.

I have come to understand that perceiving the world through a "foggy" lens—a dynamic veil that simultaneously obscures and reveals—is to glimpse reality in its most authentic form: an endless, ever-evolving mystery. This perspective is rendered through the exacting medium of mixed metalpoint (silver, gold, copper, and bronze) on hand-prepared traditional gesso panels. I utilize these specific metals not only for their unique light-reflective qualities but for their historical associations with healing and alchemy. As the copper and silver oxidize over time, the work becomes a "living" painting, reflecting a world that is alive, dynamic, and constantly transforming.

Central to this series is the Sanskrit root tan—meaning "to weave" or "compose." This concept serves as the connective tissue between my figurative rendering and the elemental world. By synthesizing ancient lineage with a contemporary vision of our local landscape, these works capture a perpetual interplay of light and formlessness. They offer the viewer a site for reverence and contemplation—a "Magical Net" that reminds us of our fundamental interconnectedness with the elements from which we are made.