Cicada by Rob Evans

“With Cicada the idea began in 1994 with a small sketch of a cicada shedding its skin on a tree branch - inspired by the memory of the cicadas’ song vibrating through the treetops on the ridge at Roundtop each summer and finding their papery translucent skins on the bark of the trees. The idea of metamorphosis and change intrigued me and became especially relevant later that year as Roundtop, a place that seemed would always be a permanent and enduring fixture in my life, was sold out of the family and was completely remodeled and changed by its new owner. Suddenly the concept behind the painting took on a powerful new meaning and relevance - it became a way of dealing with and expressing my sense of loss over this place which was an enormous and important part of my childhood. In a way it became a realization and acceptance of the fact that all things, no matter how permanent they may seem, are ephemeral, and that life is in a constant state of flux. In a wonderful way the cicada metamorphosing became a metaphor for this process and I used it as the central image for the triptych.” - Rob Evans

Audio coming soon!

See below for a series of sketches Rob Evans completed prior to the finished painting. To access additional educational materials, visit us on Learn with the Michener.