January Exhibitions

This semester I am attempting to visit more art.  It is a bit of a challenge due to my location and life happening bu so far I've been to two shows. While still in Boston I managed to catch the MFA's Mario Testino: In Your Face exhibit. I questioned some of the choices considered fine art. At what point in advertising does a photo cross the border between artistic and just old hat, and who exactly makes those calls. The printing, framing and lighting choices in the gallery were all important in framing the work as different forms of art, but I found myself leaving skeptical.

Upon my return home from Boston my new Mentor invited me to her collaborative exhibit Onn/Of Light Festival. The entrance to the exhibit was through a shady back door entrance with black and white drippy 8ft plywood signs.  Again, I was skeptical of the entire event based on first impression. Once inside the show took on a different tone. It felt sort of like a night club art opening.

 
There were free standing sculptures, paintings, crafting centers, holograms, filmography and even a prison style tattoo station.

The theme of every piece was supposed to be light in the gloom of winter. I think some of the pieces were very successful on their own, but I felt a lot of the work needed some form of explanation. It got me thinking about what is too much and too little information for the common viewer. At what point as a conceptual artist do you give more, and is it even necessary? Is the confusion of the art itself part of the entire project?

Feeling Overwhelmed

 This was my setup for my second residency at AIB in Boston. There was a section with my photo series as well, but since it wasn't really discussed I decided not to post it here.

On return from Boston I have found myself swimming in thoughts. I have little manic notes all over the house with half finished lists of things I need to do, or ideas I want to try.  I want to jump into work again, but I have to wait for my body to recover from my Boston visit, as well as, maintain a social family life.

I have been sketching and absorbing the critiques I received during my time in Boston.  I have a loom purchased and a few books on my reading list downloaded to my kindle (SWEET!). I've done some research on wood paneling, enamel, and plaster casting.  This is going to be a very labor intensive semester with a lot of tears from botched experiments, but I think I am ready to take it on. Right now though I am focusing on organizing my thoughts and repairing my body.

So instead of producing work right now I am synthesizing my notes so I can write my residency summary. I think once I get this paper written, my readings in order, and artists I want to pursue all in one spot I will feel more whelmed instead of overwhelmed.

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.