Artist Statement by Aaron Hollingsworth
Painting is seeing. We can't fully understand everything, as much as we strive for
clear answers
and for everything to add up we still leave with questions. Life delivers new ideas,
perspectives
and challenges each day but I believe painting still provides a window to look through.
Life
provides moments of give and take as well, we know that if we let go of something
there is the
possibility to then receive something new. This idea of the unexpected, unknown and
surrender
drive my work. The objects and spaces that are tied to the mysteries beyond us and
the power
of shared experiences are represented in my work through often unexpected and mundane
references.
I work two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally at varying scales. Intricate yet
structured forms are morphed together through found and new materials, alongside traditional
painting and drawing media. Found materials include scrap pieces of wood, cloth, and
paper.
Then through sketches, color and material studies, I form a general palette and composition
with these three subjects at play. By working in three different concentrations this
allows each to
play off the other in my process of making, creating conversation in my studio space.
Each painting or object created may then speak to or find ties with each other and
inform
other works as I move about the creating process. Typically working on multiple pieces
at one
time, sculptures are often referenced in paintings and drawings, and paintings and
drawings
often influence sculptures. Plaster, wood, paint, charcoal, canvas and linen are used
in various
ways to create these objects. Plaster and paint create layers of imagery and color
to add
complexity and depth giving history and narrative. Some pieces are thoughtfully and
slowly
considered, taking a year of layering and building to form what they are; some are
quick and
certain. The same methods and materials are considered and used in each sculpture,
typically
with wood as the primary surface that is carved, and constructed before these other
materials
are adhered. With each piece the forms of figures and mundane objects are idealized
and
recontextualized to create an interpersonal dialogue between them. Most pieces go
through
many iterations, reconstructions or layers creating a vailing of abstruse and commonplace
information.
Artist Statement by Max Raign
In my artwork I'm interested in how our personal emotions and internal frictions shape
and
transform with time. I am also interested in exploring how deeply the objects, materials,
and
places in our lives inform our personal senses of comfort or discomfort. Themes in
my art
include concepts of a home, our connections to the spaces around us, and satirical
views on
suburban living.
I've begun to think about my artmaking as a way of reassuring myself that I'm able
to take claim
of the world and materials around me to create a space that can be alright, stable,
and
comfortable. I use my art and the process of creating to reflect on our unique place
in the world
and how we move through the spaces we inhabit. I want to acknowledge and take claim
of the
objects and places around me so I can better understand my identity and place within
the space
I exist in. In this sense, making art objects serves as a process to allow me to gain
clearer
understanding of what I need from my personal idea of a home and how my personal identity
and thoughts reflect my position within art and the world. Through this process I
still want to
strive to maintain a sense of humor and self-awareness instead of making overly serious
art. I
feel that proper care and understanding, serious discussions can come from playful
or silly art,
to act like I already understand everything with my art would be a lie so for me approaching
art
with truthfulness and humor help me to fully understand the work I create and how
it exists
within our environments.
Throughout my art I'm searching for my own understanding of what I need for myself
to feel
secure and warm. My art serves as an attempt to work through these thoughts and feelings
in a
way I hope is relatable to others. My work strongly relies on the use of common domestic
materials that can highlight the human hand that worked to craft them. I often use
fabric,
embroidery, paper, or collage elements to represent and honor the craft and domestic
making
processes that are not historically associated with fine art. When working with these
elements, I
want to be aware of my place within art so I can share my own perspective while also
being
conscious and educated of the traditions and history that are associated with the
materials and
processes in my work. I aim to bring these materials together in an unexpected combination
that
can reflect my feeling and thoughts about the home I've yet to discover and my identity
in the
world as an artist and a person. Art should be allowed to be a silly and fun and joyful
expression
of ourselves, but that doesn't mean we should dilute or change ourselves to create
honest art.