Earthquake
The exhibition stems from the idea built up from tensions exploding, creating a dramatic disrupting force. Earthquakes create friction of tectonic plates, their effects seeming to function as a sort of auto-correct. “Earthquakes” consists of paintings created in the first half of 2016, when a sense of separation was resurfacing in America and in the media. Through the election campaign, Black Lives Matters, water issues in Flint Michigan, and the Dakota Access Pipeline there seemed to be an endless disruptive force in the US. I felt responsible to react, to access a universality of ourselves.
The works function as Paleolithic Contemporary paintings, focusing on an earth-tone palette. Color is representative of nature and human identity. Signs and symbols communicate ideas that correlated beyond time and cultures, absolute truths that could only be described indirectly. The entire painting process for this suite of work was accomplished by constructing the foundation of the painting, ripping the material thereby isolating initial gestures, and finally stitching up the new composition.
This is a metaphor I feel can be applied to the present erroneous times. Following 2016, the world experienced insurmountable shock, but for those who believe in a tomorrow, we must focus our energy now on creating a better existence.
“You’re living at a time of extremism, a time of revolution
a time where there’s got to be a change. People in power have misused it
and now there has to be a change and a better world has to be built
and the only way is going to be built is with extreme methods
and I for one will join with anyone, don’t care what color you are
as long as you want change this miserable condition that exists on this earth.”
-Malcolm X