ERNIE BARNES (1938-2009)Games and Shines,circa 1970signed 'ERNIE BARNES' (lower right)acrylic on canvas24 x 48 in.61 x 121.9 cm.For further information on this lot please visit theArtist or Maker: ERNIE BARNES (1938-2009)Provenance: ProvenanceThe Collection of Tom Gries, California (acquired directly from the artist)Acquired by descent from the above to the present ownerThe copyright to this painting is reserved by the Ernie Barnes Family Trust.We wish to thank the Ernie Barnes Estate for their kind assistance in cataloging this lot.Demonstrating the iconic and vibrant style of Ernie Barnes, an artist now finally receiving long overdue recognition, the present lot is a paramount example from the artist'soeuvre which uniquely brings together Barnes' personal history as an artist, football player, and actor in conversation with his upbringing in North Carolina. In 1969 Barnes played football player Deke Coleman in a supporting role inNumber One, a film directed by Tom Gries starring Charlton Heston. With a plot centered around a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints who leads the team to glory in the Super Bowl, it was a fitting narrative for Barnes, who earlier in his career was a professional football player for the New York Titans, the San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos.missioned by Gries, Barnes painted this scene of a pool hall set in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina. Hidden motifs (such as the cover page of the newspaper on the right side of theposition which announces that Tom Gries will be directingNumber One) reveals the artist sharing and reflecting on his aplishments with loved ones in his hometown. The soft and thoughtful brushstrokes, and dynamic rendering of hazy light, imbue the painting with a sense of presence and emotion that is a quintessential characteristic of the artist's style.