CURRENT EXHIBITION

Senior Seminar
ARTWORKS
April 21 – May 9

Exhibition Opening: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 4:30 p.m.

Featuring:
Tara Fountain
Angela Gaulke
Jess Kingston
Lauren Padula

ARTISTS' STATEMENTS:

I created my works using the same process I use when I paint; sketching it out, selecting a color palette, building up the subject layer by layer, changing my mind, taking away layers, adding more, touching it up, finishing and breathing a sigh of relief. Again, like painting, I tried to achieve value and space through color, temperature, and texture. In this case however, I used fabric as my paint. Through this process I hoped to explore the connection between a historically “male” process of painting, with the historically “female” process of sewing.	Tara Fountain
	Although there are women who are recognized for their excellence in painting, throughout history, predominantly males are known for the medium. Likewise, many men can sew but it is women who have become associated with the process. This may still hold true today. Name 5 well known painters. How many of them were women? Also think of your family. Who would ask for help if you needed a button sewn back on to a shirt?
By making David, a symbol of masculinity and victory, out of layers of tulle, a material commonly used in dresses, is he any less masculine or victorious? What about when you look closer and realize his hair is made of a pattern of flowers? What makes one “masculine” or “feminine?
	While sewing in David’s eyes, I reach a point where I had to stop. The process of poking the needle through the canvas where the eyes were located was too violent for me to continue. Violence. Does it make one more manly? Are women expected to be passive and nurturing? Was I too girly to finish?
Through my work, I also wanted to explore the difference between a “fine art” and a “craft”. Few would object that painting, drawing and sculpture fall under the fine arts category, but what about sewing? What if the sewn piece is of a classical sculpture or a recreation of a painting?
	I have been sewing since I was 8 years old. When I look back on my experiences with sewing, I wonder, is it an artistic talent or is it just a useful skill to have? Is something that is practical still considered art? What if a dress is hung up at an art gallery? How about quilts? Some are too delicate to be put to use but are hung on walls like art work is. Where is the line between art and craft? Is there a line at all?
I hope that my work is a catalyst for discussion of these questions; I do not expect them to be the answers.

Jessica Kingston | Artist Statement

What are women in today’s society?

How are our body images shaped?

Are we just pieces of meat to men?

Will our appearance determine our success?

The media constantly bombards us with sexual imagery. I get fired up whenever I pick up a Cosmopolitan Magazine because of all the garbage printed in it. Is this what we have turned into, idolizers of celebrities that look like skeletons? Most of these women look fake and mannequinesque after having ridiculous and unnecessary plastic surgery procedures. Our society places too much emphasis on appearance. Eventually youth and beauty fade away.

I am greatly inspired by Martha Rosler and her collages depicting women in relation to war. There’s great substance to the work she creates and relays her personal feelings about women without censorship. I also find great inspiration in 17th century Dutch still life paintings which relay messages about mortality. My work this semester has been a process of discovering and trying to display my personal feelings about body image in relation to our society and the media.

Lauren Padula

Room, light, cluster, tight, messy, life, lifeless, motion, vibrate, space, balance, control, depth, and value are all the ingredients needed to create a moment in time that is frozen and captured by charcoal and paint on paper and canvas. Creating an endless story of possibilities, I invite you into someone else’s life for a moment to imagine, create and judge.

These art pieces let you travel through the given lines, focus on the filled rooms and stare back at the stern faces. Charcoal and brushes are used to make the precisely blurred room overwhelming yet fulfilling and relieving. The focus is on everything. The goal of these art pieces is to create space. With this space I created action and with this action I created spills, bends, leaning, twists, turns, and a mess.

This painting smears life onto the canvas with color. The color and the brush strokes fill the room. There is less confusion with objects throughout the painting but it is still just as busy as the drawings. The clutter comes from the strokes and the heavy paint. Massive amounts of objects are not necessary because the room is filled with the spaces of chaotic walls and floors mixed together to give the room a vibrating sense.

With these pieces I proved to myself that I do not need well defined objects to create a story. Detail does not have to be perfect. It needs value and a light source to come out of the picture and into real life. It makes these frozen moments look simple but lively. The clutter gives a direction for these stories and makes us all want to be able to live through such a strong balance of black, white and color.

*D'Alzon Arts Series* Emmanuel d'Alzon Library, 1st Floor	D'Alzon Arts Schedule	Future Poetry Readings
Assumption College 500 Salisbury Street	Future Art Exhibitions
Worcester, MA 01609 508-767-7272	Past Art Exhibitions	Past Poetry Readings