Artists Describing Their Art:
Mark Porter - Artist webpage: www.markportersculpture.com Fusing found objects and his own custom-made creations, Mark Porter produces one-of-a-kind pieces that gradually transform themselves -- and the gallery -- as the show progresses. The mechanical-drawings-turned-sculptures in Nurture/Alter mimic the irregularity of human actions and portray narratives through a series of projected images, videos, and fluid expulsions. Porter places his project blueprints next to the sculptures to aid in the understanding of their development, which continues free of his influence for the duration of the exhibition. Check out the show sooner than later, though, so you can observe the counterproductive movements of Porter's work before it slowly self-destructs. - Morgan Phelps...
Jill M. Armstrong - I love the poetic image and a satisfying leap of imagination. My work is based largely on this premise and for my mixed media sculpture, I juxtapose materials and language with loaded objects (with an existing identity or history), much the same way a poet juxtaposes nouns and verbs. My work often references the body, or suggests its presence. I pull other design forms from plants and animals, but the resulting effect is usually seen as surreal, perhaps because most of the work is made from found objects. Even so, many of my more successful works often look like they grew or evolved organically as opposed to being manufactured. I've often thought that my found-object sculptures are like surreal trinkets. They might be evidence of an unknown culture or someone's personal and private collection of emotionally charged objects. I am inspired by the traditions of Surrealism, Dada, and Arte Povera. As well as building visual art works, I also write poetry. I sometimes merge the two of them and they work well together. ...
Elena Osterwalder - When people leave their homeland, their home memories freeze in that instant, and without them realizing it both the country and the people progress in divergent directions. The external influences of the new country tend to be assimilated with the old ones and in "The Arts" form a new esthetic with components of both cultures. Years later the yearning for what was left behind takes a hold of them and forces them to look back. In my case using components that have historical and spiritual value in the Mexican tradition, I strive to converge the various cultures that have influenced me and create a 21st century aesthetic. Cuando uno deja a su pais , el recuerdo de su pais se congela en ese instante y no se da cuenta que tanto el pais como el mismo progresan en direcciones divergentes. Las influencias del nuevo se asimilan con las antiguas y en "Las Artes" forman una nueva estetica con componentes de las dos culturas. Anos mas tarde cuando cree que ha incorporado ambas culturas, la anoranza de lo que ha dejado detras toma mucha fuerza y lo empuja a mirar atras. En mi caso...
Louise Parenteau - ARTISTIC STATEMENT I studied fine arts at the University Of Quebec In Montreal (1986-1991). I was involved in various artistic activities in which I took a strong stand against injustice, poverty, and social exclusion. My work took shape using different methods of research and observation. I articulated my artistic approach inspired by existential human sufferings. I created portraits of individuals with unusual physical traits, expressions, deformities, attitudes... These characters inspired me to use colour in contrasts and splashes. My aim was to express the life animating the characters by an internal light. For my installations, I used a physical space to transpose socio-political situations and dramatic events. With the barest resources, my intention was to stimulate the interest of the viewer. My material supplies: Acrylic, rubbish, wood, metal, rust, polystyrene panels, personal objects, used clothing, etc. In 1995, I realized that I had reached limits with my artistic approach. I decided to have a period of questioning with the aim of going further in my research in terms of intention and expression. This process enabled me to explore, to experiment with different materials and to reposition myself using sculpture as my main form of expression. Ever...
Gary Chris Christopherson - Abstract sculpture by GChris is what he terms "progressive art" and is mission-driven. Progressive art is art with a purpose and artist as advocate. "Art as advocacy; advocacy as art." The call to artists and people generally is to embrace both art and advocacy, use their synergy, and advance progressive values. Advanced by the art are core progressive values - reducing human vulnerability, maximizing human potential, saving our environment, and living at "peace on and with the earth." Underlying it all is the driving desire to "save the world", as best as we as people can. Toward that end, GChris abstract mobiles and stabiles help drive toward a positive progressive vision of the future. They portray strong driving forces -- the desire for knowledge, spirit and justice. High level thought, being, and positive interrelationships are not ends but new foundations from which progress springs. Progressive art supports the continuous striving for absolute knowledge, absolute spirit and perfected being with full recognition this is an inevitable, unending, inspiring and liberating human enterprise. To achieve the vision, they also help explore threats of vulnerability, conflict, and chaos. The mobiles and stabiles address these threats, glean whatever positives they contain, and advocate major progression...
Lila Goldner - "When faced with a lack of purposeand direction,let us expand capacity of observance,increase possibility of learning and understanding,let us be ready to face the moment when the tasks set before us will be beyond our power.Let us rob the moment of eternity that belong to us and sink into oblivion" ...
Ivan Kosta - My mission? To give some resemblance of our lives, to touch our fears,concerns, evoke dreams and give hope in time of dispair... ...