Artist Cynthia Daignault was a high school senior in Maryland when the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City occurred on April 19, 1995. It was a tragedy that coincided with a poignant moment in her life: graduation and getting ready to go out into the world. It left a lasting impression on her.
Over the years, the tragedy continued to intersect with Daignault’s life. It surfaced while she assisted artist Kara Walker on a work about white supremacy. Then, during a cross-country road trip, Daignault discovered she was staying in the hotel where Timothy McVeigh planned the attack. This prompted her to stop at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, reigniting her memory. So when Daignault began working on What Happened (2018)—one hundred paintings of the last hundred years of American culture—it was clear to her the bombing of the Murrah building would represent 1995. After the series was finished, she felt the urge to explore 1995 further, resulting in Oklahoma.
While this black-and-white painting may recall a newspaper clipping from a distance, upon closer inspection the loose brushstrokes confuse the image into almost chaotic lines. In developing the painting, Daignault wanted viewers “to really feel the brushstroke” without it being overwhelming. As she explained, “It’s not a grand gesture . . . creating a monumental painting didn’t feel right. I wanted to create contemplation, quiet thoughtfulness, and sadness.”
This newly acquired work offers visitors a chance to reflect and remember. As the artist shared, “it’s an image that we all carry around with us; it’s part of our memory and consciousness. . . . [I was exploring] what it means to remember and connect it to today.”
OKCMOA has collaborated with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to enhance your experience. Each institution will honor a $2 discount on general admission when museum-goers show their same-day ticket at the other museum.
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Credit: Cynthia Daignault, Oklahoma, 2021. Oil on canvas. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in honor of all of the community volunteers who assisted in the recovery from the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, 2021.050, © Cynthia Daignault
