Now that my show in Portland is underway and I'm able to refocus my energies elsewhere, I'm hopeful that I can continue keeping my forward momentum. In January I began putting together a series of works that focuses on calligraphic marks which explore the acts of writing and drawing. While I feel that this work will be an important facet to my catalog moving forward, today I revisited some collage work that I had all but put on hold. Collage seems to provide me a vehicle for expression that painting just can't provide and inevitably I'm never too far away from its sway. The found object is apparent in images repurposed from old National Geographic magazines from the 1940s and 1950s. When juxtaposed with nonrepresentational elements the context is easily skewed to ask a new question while providing a level of accessibility into the work. This play with context is perhaps what fascinates me most with using images from the WWII era. Do we, as viewers, recognize these as images from a bygone age, is it even possible not to do so and think of them in strictly contemporary terms? If these elements are of a war time ilk, how does the context of our modernity shape how we view these images? I hope that the questions these compositions raise will be thought provoking and the allow the viewer to ponder their own experience with the work. What more can I ask as an artist? Her Biggest Job Is War, 2016, Collage on Panel, 14"x14"
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Just a quick FYI as my poor blog sits neglected for the time being. I will be the featured artist at a new show in Portland at Splendorporium, entitled Flora and Fauna. The opening reception is Friday, April 1st at 7 pm. I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I think it should be a really strong show.
As a brief update, I'm waiting to hear back from 2 residencies I've applied for, as well as a show in Corvallis. Beyond that I'm looking for gallery representation and have started to research venues in other states. I'm really interested to see how my work might be received outside of the Northwest. In the mean time, enjoy some of the updated content on my website, come to my new show, and so long for now!
As I've said several times before, I've been horrible about keeping up on this blog this year. It just seems like the further along in the year we get, the busier our schedules become. Conversely, the further along I get in the studio the more I just want to work on compositions and less on writing, but unfortunately I'm to a point where I really don't have a choice. I would guess that's probably a good thing, considering I'm going to need to carry that momentum forward, but I hope that momentum doesn't wane when I go home and have to rely on shutting out the distractions of every day life. I have a really nice studio space at home that I can work in (two good sized bedrooms, a hall and a bathroom), but it's still working out of my house; where my dogs are, where the computer is, where the tv is, and where my wife and I hang out and relax. Complacency is my greatest fear moving forward.
One thing that might help, hopefully, is that I've been notified that I'll be the featured artist at a show in March of 2016 at Splendorporium in Portland. That gives me a goal, a reason to further explore working. The theme of the show is Flora and Fauna, which should be easy for me to connect to my work. More recently, I've been notified that I'll have works in the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts Artist's Vision Exhibition in June, as well as the Recent Graduates Exhibition at Blackfish Gallery in Portland in July. It's exciting to have so much happening so fast, but it can be really stressful as well. Finding balance is going to be key for me, and as long as I can remain healthy enough to get through the next couple of months I think I'll be ok.
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Allow me to share my thoughts as I journey through my BFA year at Western Oregon University. Archives
April 2016
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