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In a youth crazed society, anxious about the
marks of age, I am an aging white menopausal female baby
boomer, WHO does not want to be EXTREMELY MADE OVER! I am
a marked woman, distinguished by the topographical history
of my flesh, maps of the memories of my life.
My work speaks of change, metamorphosis, and
transcendence. People age. Through art, universal in its
capacity to communicate, I hope to encourage dialogue about
the inevitable, gradual evolution that we all must experience
if we are fortunate enough to grow older. This visual conversation
can elevate our awareness and acceptance of the natural
process of transformation, to create an environment that
will transcend the superficial, and embrace more dignified
values and standards of beauty.
This work begins with photographs of myself
and people familiar to me, or my face pressed directly in
the photocopy machine. Multiple photocopies are then manipulated
to transform the image. Hundreds of these are filed and
kept. Significant to my work is the evolution of process,
which intensifies the development of my vision. Through
the abandonment of traditional methods of working once held
so sacred, I am freed to think for myself, placing strict
limitations upon my individualized methods. Self imposed
restrictions of subject, tone, color, and mark-making enhance
the poignancy of the content. There is a gradual breakdown
of overall image, yet simultaneously the constituent parts
become more specific, enhanced and real (hair, skin cracks,
crevices, wrinkles, etc.). Paintings and drawings emerge
concurrently, connected by process, consistency of vision,
and pure obsession. It is the details that most accurately
define myself and therefore, reflect in my art. It is the
process that defines this work. Abstract clusters of entangled
lines describe intimate glimpses of delicate mortal filigree.
An obscured facial fragment emerges slowly, as I experience
and choose each wrinkle, crack and crevice.
The image, intentionally conceived, analytically
maneuvered, then methodically placed upon sand coated surfaces
prepared with exact densities of sand to influence hue and
texture, is then painted with a varied palette of sand,
and finally oil. Distanced from content, after these many
aspects of an extremely calculated process, the image miraculously
emerges with its own voice. I can revisit these images,
because the end result is always new! Despite my intensely
controlled process, the image that appears eventually dictates
to me, and I am happy to comply and be guided. Repeatedly,
I am amazed, surprised, ecstatic, as I await the emergence
of this new image with its own life and voice!
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