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WTLI Exhibition

Where The Light Is: An exploration of negative space, depth and light

This exhibition took place in May 2023 and was a culmination of an exploration of form, depth and negative space, and how these components interact with the viewer and their environment. Within these explorations, I created spaces where negative space or shadow can be brought to the forefront and in some cases projected. While in many 2 dimensional pieces, I explore depth through various media to create contrast and movement within the compositions.

Influences

My art is a recollection of memories about my experiences, influences and stories I've heard. I play with the duality of light, darkness and typography to create illusionistic aspects through mixed media. In doing so, I create curious forms, shapes and puzzles that play with negative space. Over the last 3 years i have been working to further my artistic skills by adding depth through the use of darkness or shadow, and to incorporate an interactive component.

The interactive component involves interaction with the viewer and/or the environment, either through touch or movement. Interaction with the environment involves lighting components that activate when the pieces are introduced to darkness. Whereas more functional objects require interaction with the viewer through use, by turning the object on or off, and are designed to interact with the constant change of a home environment. I incorporate these components into both 2D and 3D art.

WTLI Exhibition

WTLI Exhibition

Video created by Elizabeth Reeves

Video photos taken by Matty Palamara

Artwork

More Details

That Which Binds Us (Pt. 1)

2020
36"x 22"
Ink

Often, the things that linger from our experiences, family or environment, also binds us, whether positive or negative. That Which Binds Us is a 2D ink work piece that explores generational blessings and curses through a reimagining of pandoras box. In this version, the positive energies are within the box, while the negative are surrounded on the outside and infect those that touch it. The words within this piece are from the song The Lord will make a way somehow, by Hezekiah Walker, and state, "Like a ship that's tossed battered by an angry sea and their fury falls on me. I wonder what I have done Soul take courage Lord will make a way somehow."

Consumption (pt. 2)

2020
24"x 18"
Mixed media

The 2nd portion to That Which Binds Us (pt.1). This pieces explores what being consumed by negative energies could look like or entail. To create this piece pyrography was used for the outline and shading, and paint was used for the highlights. The words in the artwork state- fear, expectations, hate, others & ourselves, constraints, loss, the past and doubt.

Moi Ikai

2022
19.5"x 10.75"x 10"
Wood, pyrography

Moi Ikai or mou ikai, meaning "again" or "once more," is a small chest that combines 3D visual components with 2D typography using pyrography as a way to inscribe the design into wood. The box is designed as a keep sake and is an exploration of combining 3D and 2D components. The silhouette of the raven in the corner is inspired by an anime entitled Haikyuu. The words state, "Just a bit further."

Sky Bubble

The Sky Bubble is an exploration on the illusion of light through a prismatic 3D geometric shape. Within a prism, light is refracted, revealing various colors of light. The dome is about 7'x7'x4', big enough for a person crawl into and allow them to interact with their environment and the piece. By creating the dome to this size the colorful ink attributes create unique light fractures and shadows within the dome and throughout the environment it resides.

Words Unspoken

2021
23.5"x 15.5"
Mixed Media

Words unspoken is an exploration in combining different media types, plastic clear acrylic, ink and pyrography to create a cohesive composition. After creating this piece, I found that the clear aspect created a colorful rain shadow, which I continue to explore in other pieces like Sun Shadow I and the Sky Bubble. The words used within this piece are from the song Fallin by marina and Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. The words state, "The beauty I really want, my seem to be awkward to someone's eyes" and "Drench yourself in words unspoken, Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find, Release your inhibitions."

It Gets Better

2021
26"x 22.5"
Mixed Media magnetic puzzle

It Gets Better is a mixed media magnetic puzzle, that uses a graffiti inspired font to shape and create and composition that the viewer can interact with. The symbols and colors where chosen as reminders towards spiritual balance and encouragement. The colors reference that LGBTQ flag and the it gets better project from 2010. The words within the piece state, "But if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place" and the meaning, that I found at the time, for the colors of the original Pride flag "Life, Healing, Sunlight, Nature, Harmony, Spirit."

Stronger

2021
20"x 16"
Acrylic

Stronger is an exploration into graffiti text as a what to add depth and weight to the typography I use with my pieces. In this piece I'm exploring the block type graffiti text and hiding words inside of a word. The song lyrics used make this piece are from Stronger by Clean Bandit. The painting states, "Stronger, if only you could promise that you will try too, I'll be there."

It Says Go

2021
20"x 16"
Acrylic

It Says Go is an exploration in incorporating typography into the components and composition of an art piece, rather than siting on top of the composition as if pasted there. In this piece I wanted to explore a monochromatic piece through line depth and line weight. The phrases in this piece are from two sources, a song, Grand Escape by Radwimps from Weathering with You and a book, The Way by Joseph Bruchac. The words state, "Our love speaks to us, a voice speaks to us, it says go" and "All power comes from the creator, all things R connected, There is peace w/in me as I follow the way."

Deer Stool

2021
14"x 14"x 19"
Walnut, white maple, pyrography

Deer Stool is a 3D functional piece, inspired by West African Bameleke stools, that incorporates wood carving and combining 2D and 3D works using pyrography to burn into the wood. For this piece I chose to incorporate a deer to remind me of home in the Pacific Northwest. There are many deer and Evergreen trees. With this piece I also wanted to incorporate a scent aspect with fragrance will or pine and cedar which is rubbed into the wood to emulate the Evergreen wood smell.

Jiva Jago

2023
9"x 9"x 17"
Cypress, resin

Jiva Jago is another wooden lantern that combines 2D designs onto a 3D form. This piece also combines glow-in-the-dark infused resin to allow the light to interact with the negative space within the wood, as well as the opacity of the resin. The words within the piece are from Rise by Willow and Jahnavi Harrison. The words state, "Wake up sleeping soul," and "The veil slipped a now I can see . . . just keep me where the light is Awake for there are things to be done, Listen for nature wants to be heard through her barely audible whispers & terrible screams."

But That's Why

2021
20"x 16"
Acrylic

But That's Why is another exploration in graffiti typography. The style I explore in the piece is wildstyle. The I chose a galaxy themed background explore negative space. By using glow-in-the-dark paint in the background and white for the lettering, the typography can be seen as a negative using a blacklight. The words used within the piece are from the song True Love from Steven Universe. The words state, "Keeping it together is hard but that's why, you've got to try, open your eyes."

Stickers

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