My Artist Statement

Below is my artist statement for this semester. I've thought long and hard about this and I'm ready for the upcoming residency in January.

Artist Statement

The military trained me to look and act in a certain fashion, and compliance brought me rewards. Time spent in the service has had a lasting effect on me and I want my art to communicate this experience and my perception of the military. My experience in the Navy has created a great sense of pride, but also bitterness towards military requirements stifling my individuality through subservience. I translate the pride and enjoyment found in the structured military lifestyle, but at the same time I juggle with the bitterness and resentment I feel towards the military by employing fragile and inedible mediums and exaggerated, misleading color palettes. I emphasize the idea of the individual and the cherished medals and ribbons through the deliberately introduced imperfections.

My paintings, sculptures, installations and photographs have similarities through size, color and repetition. I create a commentary on the removal of an individual’s identity by incorporating mass-produced readymade items. The conclusion of military service returns the individual’s identity, and I represent this in my work through rugged hand-made objects. My paintings, ceramics, wax and enamel allude to the notion of non-conformity within the military system through blemishes and a child-like quality that realistically identifies the people in our military. By focusing on symbology through small military accessories, I experiment with the playful and memorable moments during one’s time in service.

Flags

I've been wrapping up a few projects that I have yet to show on my blog. They both revolve around the American Flag.

 The first idea continues the use of homemade inedible insignia candy individually wrapped. They are piled in the center of an American flag which is cleanly laid out on the floor. The act of laying the flag on the floor is a form or resentment in my work because it is such a dishonor to our flag, and on the other hand it is used as a blanket or table cloth to keep the candies clean and free from the floor.

The second idea deals with images I collected from other military members. The images are of different ways each person stores their medals and ribbons when not in use or after service is complete. They are Photoshopped and altered to emphasize the ribbons. They are then lined up as an archive would be and generically labeled. I am also working on a project that contains a miniature flag hung from the ceiling with these photos hung evenly on each side. The ribbons have been cut out of the images to emphasize the idea that our flag and country leaves a lasting memory in service members through their routine achievements in the military.

Jeffrey Mitchell Exhibit

My house had a break down while I was away on Halloween night.  Now I am trying to deal with the damage repairs and a cold/allergies (not sure which it is).  I'm wrapping up my work by the end of November so it has time to dry and cure prior to shipping so at this point most of what I am working on will be wrapping up ideas from this residency and working up new ideas for the second residency.

Last Tuesday I met with my mentor.  I surfaced from the session with a new determination.  She recommended I visit the new exhibit at the Henri; Like a Valentine: The Art of Jeffrey Mitchell and think about it in relation to my work.  When I first arrived I did not quite understand why she wanted me to see his work.  It took some walking around to glean what ideas his work was inspiring and steering me towards.

Jeffrey Mitchell is a ceramist.  His work is based on sex, love, death and spirituality.  He creates these crazy sculptures, pickle jars and whimsical animals that at first seem innocent, but upon further inspection are comments based on his personal experiences.

  

The longer I spent with the pieces the more I picked up on the social cues being projected.  This is what my work is missing in some areas.  Specifically my candy dish idea and my photo project.  I have decided to go two different ways with my candy dish due to Mitchell's work.  My work with enamel, wax and ceramic insignia can be used in a different expressive piece.  They are objects given out in abundance.  My photo project has developed into an installation piece that represents the patriotism imbued in each ribbon a military member collects.  

Right now my concentration is short, but my determination is great.  Just working on being prepared for January at this point.

 

Cigar Boxes and Excitement

Today I completed three of my many pieces in progress.  I am working with the idea of ribbon and medals as "treasures" and "momentos".  A lot of keep sakes are placed on display in homes, and a lot are stored very commonly in cigar boxes.  I think the use of cigar boxes always makes me think of grandparents and past generations.  Of course, the only person I remember ever smoking cigars in my family was my Great Uncle Ange.  He loved cigars so much he was buried with them.  As a little girl I had a cigar box at my grandparents house that stored little toys and childhood keep sakes.  I guess that is something I feel and remember when I see these boxes.  I think this is a common experience for American's, which I think helps make the entire piece relate-able.

From left to right:  National Defense Ribbon, Navy Commendation, Good Conduct and Sea Service

This box works really wonderfully with the National Defense Ribbon.
As the "Autumn Collection" it feels somewhat fake and mass produced to me.

Taking the time to study the works of Haacke and Kippenberger helped a great deal with the creation of these pieces.  I was struggling with the idea of using ready made objects, but I don't think these pieces would work as well without them.  I'm very pleased with the way the ceramic pieces turned out in the end, and hopefully my mentor and advisor will feel the same.  Aside from these pieces I'm still plugging away on my candy bowls and paintings.

Labor of Love

This is my first time painting SO SMALL.  It is really a challenge for me, but I'm trying to do the best I can.  I finished the first of what is to be a long series of ribbon paintings.  It took me 12 hours total (not including drying time between coats) which will be hard to believe seeing as the piece is only 12x12 and has detail in only one area...a labor of love indeed.

A close up of what is considered a "finished" product.  After it dries I may go back in and fix.

The full piece with hospital corner folds in the canvas.

 These three are a few of the other paintings I have in progress.  These each have two coats currently.  A burnt umber under painting and a wash of colors.  I currently have 5 in progress, but somehow I missed photographing 2 of them.  I guess I got caught up in the moment.

 As the pieces near completion they will have individual touches that will make each unique. I haven't decided if I am happy with how they are unfolding, but this could be a good thing since the Navy did not unfold the way I thought it would either.  Somewhat a happy accident.

These ribbons were discarded at a thrift store.  They are dirty and torn and are completely unusable for uniforms. I am painting these with the material in the position it was in when I purchased the items because I think it adds to the unique quality.  It shows the rough handling they went through, and how the material has shifted and changed over time.

Above are more enamel insignia or "candies".  This time the enamel worked out a bit better because I mixed some wax into it.  It is less brittle but still has a somewhat yummy hard candy look to it.  I have decided to do a bowl of ceramic candies, a bowl of wax candies, and a bowl of enamel candies.  Each bowl will have a different glaze pattern with the same idea of the red white and blue of our flag patterned on the outside.  The inside of each bowl will be white to signify the innocence, ignorance, safety, comfort, and simplicity. 

I am also working on a momento piece from ceramic medals and ribbons and photographs. I forgot to take pictures so they will be in the next post.

Birthday and Grad Work

So today is my birthday.  As a present to myself I decided to work 40 hours last week in my studio so I could fly home to Michigan to see my family.  It has been over a years since I have been home, and the visit has been a nice break, while at the same time allowing me to see art from an east coast perspective. 

On Wednesday I took a visit to the Detroit Institute of Art.  I am a big fan of this museum because they generally put on an impressive contemporary art display.  Some big hitters I had the pleasure of viewing were Newman, Oldenburg, Yoko Ono, Shakisah Sikander, Judd, Moore, Lewitt, Artswager, Segal, Bouguereau, Gentileschi, Giacometti, Rothko, Picasso, Manet, Monet, Henri...the list goes on and on.  I enjoy museums because you can get right up close and experience the brush strokes and imperfections.  It also affords me the opportunity to see the artists I have been studying side by side. 

Going with my mother, grandmother and aunt also provided me a vehicle to practice the knowledge I've been acquiring through study.  It gave me insight into areas I could use more study, and areas where retention has been fairly consistent.  It also makes me see how people can say there are no more original ideas in art.  There is so much to be influenced and inspired by today that it would be a shame not to use other artists as inspiration.

Plugging Along

 I started wrapping my "candies" this week.  It took me 5 hours to wrap what you see on the left.  FML!  I have wrappers in red and blue as well.  I have 3 giant bowls and I intend to do a different type of candy for each bowl.  I at least want one done before the residency in January.

 These are the ceramic medals and ribbons I have been working on.  I've decided to make them a project of their own.  Something that will showcase the precious nature.  I want the individual ruggedness to be extremely noticeable, because I'm working with the idea that although these pieces are mass produced they are important, yet disposable, to those that receive them. 




The medal impressions hint at the "backwards" nature of it all.

 These last two pieces are progress on my Individuals series.  The top I have completed two layers, and the bottom is just the under painting.  I have been working on constructing frames, stretching and gessoing canvas, and painting whites this week.