Center of Attention

Center of Attention suggests a frieze. A long, horizontal procession of indistinct figures standing shoulder to shoulder suggests a timeline of generations of humanity. At the center of the composition, an arched opening interrupts the procession. Beyond it, a blue sky filled with clouds and a soaring white dove offer a striking contrast to the figures who are standing in the darkness.

The arch is a recurring element in Reinike's work, representing a passage from the physical world into a more spiritual realm. Here, that passage becomes the focal point of the painting, drawing the eye from the gathered figures toward the expansive world beyond. A figure on each side of the arch has a halo that suggests the spiritual gatekeepers of the groups.

Framing the painted surface, a pair of gilded wooden borders runs along the top and bottom. Visible seams between individual gold leaf sheets echo the time‑line in the painting. The gold leaf gives the work an architectural and almost devotional character, recalling the richness of an ancient altarpiece while remaining distinctly contemporary.

Center of Attention brings together the human and the spiritual: a human timeline of generations, and a central passage opening onto light, sky, and the spiritual. The eye is drawn first to the figures, but ultimately toward what lies beyond them.

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Below: Center of Attention on Reinike's studio wall beneath To Enter or Not and beside the study and the painting titled Streaming.