Artist Statement Spring 2013

     Displacement occurs when people are exiled because of war, persecution and famine.   They are leaving their homes, hopefully finding safer spaces to exist.

     International students speaking very little English or absolutely none, arrive in my classes, landing in this new place of refuge.  This inspires me to think of them leaving their home. What was this like?  How did it feel?  Who did they leave behind?  My work expresses a reflection of this exile and movement of people.   The work is mysterious, evoking a feeling of loneliness, confusion and hope.

    Grids provide a sense of comfort in my work. Inserting them into the background, they create a feeling of order.  Order is predictable and safe.  The airplanes create a feeling of danger and discomfort.   There is a push pull between these 2 elements.  Using layers of water based media,  transfers,  gel medium and tissue paper, I am creating ghost-like images that pass through a not quite decipherable world.

Final Work for Spring 2013

"Fleeing", Gel transfer graph paper, gel transfer figurative images,water based media on 300 lb. paper.

"Landing"  Gel transfers  on umprimed birch plywood, tissue paper,water based media.

"Specter"  Gel transfer images, tissue paper, gel medium, water based media on 300 lb. paper.

"Radiate"  Tinted birch plywood, graph paper gel transfer, mixed water based media.

"Keeping Order"  Water based media, collage on birch plywood.

"Keeping Order"  (close-up)

"Playing a Game"  Water based media, collage, gel transfer, gel medium on birch plywood.

"Chalk 1"  Acrylic, gel transfer, gel medium on birch plywood.

"Chalk 2"  Acrylic, gel transfer, gel medium and tempera on birch plywood.

"Chalk 3"  Acrylic, gel transfer, gel medium and tempera on birch plywood.

"Chalk 4"  Acrylic, gel transfer, gel medium and tempera on birch plywood.

"Chalk 5"  Acrylic, gel transfer, gel medium and tempera on birch plywood.

Astral Diary by Amie Oliver, Chroma Galleries, April 2013

The artist says of her work: "This body of work is a long and winding river for me... It has a momentum which takes everything in its path and returns it to the sea: truth, beauty, pain and decay... it floods, ebbs, dwindles and flows as it makes it's way to wherever it is going."

Helping Amie set up her show on April 3 was a valuable learning experience for me. The dialogue between her and Deborah (the gallery owner) about what pieces should go where demonstrated the compromise needed for setting up the show and placement of work.  Amie was choosing pieces related to what would fit the space of the gallery and unify the show.   She was not basing her selection on her favorite pieces.  Framed work was grouped together based on their similarity.  The work and thought put into the show was impressive.