Gale Wallar

Find a mountain landscape, add cows and the result is cheese. In many places cheese is not considered a luxury food item, but is a staple that provides sustenance. Especially in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, England, and the Nordic countries.

Food as a subject in art goes as far back as Etruscan murals and Roman mosaics, through the Baroque period, with Flemish and Dutch still life (even Rembrandt with his painting, Carcass of Beef) and on into Pop Art in the 20th century.

As with certain traditional still life elements (fruit, flowers, fish, and so on), cheese also can be used as a symbol of the transitory nature of things in this world, the memento mori ('remember that you will die'). Here one day, gone tomorrow.

The variety of geometric and organic shapes, textures and range of hues and values provide endless possibilities for interesting compositions. The paintings are structured with these principles in mind.