MFA Here I come!!

After many months of planning, applications, a few interviews--only one of which was semi-traumatic-- I got accepted into my top choice graduate school program! I'll be attending The School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts in the fall. This program supports interdisciplinary experimentation, which is perfect for the work that I make. I can't wait to get started. In three weeks I will be leaving Pittsburgh to move to Boston. I am so ready for a new start and a new adventure!

I Wish Your Wish

During the 2008 Carnegie International Exhibition I volunteered in the Exhibition Department to help install work, and I also helped with the upkeep of some of the pieces throughout the show. The one piece that I was most directly involved in was Rivane Neuenschwander's I Wish Your Wish. This piece was a large wall that was filled with wish ribbons. Visitors were invited to take a wish ribbon which they felt pertained to them, and they were also able to leave their own wish behind. (Part of my job was to restock these ribbons as visitors took them). Once you take a ribbon you are to tie it around your wrist, and once it falls off that wish will supposively come true.

The ribbon I chose said: "I wish to have a big flat and studio in the middle of a big city."

I put this ribbon on opening night (April of 2008) and it FINALLY fell off last week (February of 2010). It now resembles a piece of mangled green string, but the superstitious side of me is hoping that maybe this is symbolic of my new ventures in Boston and a possible acceptance into grad school! Crossing my fingers that my wish will actually come true....

Unstill'd Exhibition

Friday, February 5th was the opening reception to the Unstill'd exhibition. Pittsburgh also received 2 feet of snow that night! Despite the blizzard, we still had an amazing turn out to the show. A big thank you to everyone who came out that night, and the Schmutz Lodge for hosting. Above are some images of my work. I'm working on making human lamps--the exterior made to replicate skin. These pictured are just prototypes for this project. Below are links to some pictures of the opening night.

Check out these photos by Don Orkoskey.

Check out these images and review from City Creative.

Even though Behind Our Scenes is soon coming to a close (open until February 14th, 2010), we are still receiving press! Check out this article in the City Paper by Bill O'Driscoll. All of the artists should be proud.

Distillery 4: Unstill'd

For the past few months, me and 7 other artists have been participating in a residency program called the Distillery. Originally we were to have a shared studio space at The Brew House Association; however, due to complications at The Brew House we lost our residency program. The 8 of us and our 3 mentors decided to stay together, and we've transformed the residency into something new. We've been given an opportunity at the Schmutz Lodge to use their building as studio and exhibition space. Our first exhibition, Unstill'd, opens February 5, 2010 at the Schmutz Lodge.

Check out these photos by Don Orkoskey of the artists installing in the space!

My First Commission

2010 started with artistic success--I received my first commission! The directors of the museum that I work at asked me to make for them one of my map portraits. Having never sold anything before, this was quite an honor. I can only hope that 2010 continues to bring more successful artistic adventures.

Behind Our Scenes: Getting Some Press

Thanks to Kurt Shaw of the Tribune Review, Behind Our Scenes had a lovely write-up in the paper this past Sunday. Check it out here.

Behind Our Scenes Continued

Here are some images of Behind Our Scenes courtesy of Tom Little. Thanks Tom!

Also, keep your eye out for a review of the show in this weekend's Tribune Review.

Maps as Portraits

Owen: Providence, RI

2009

Cut Map

I found my inspiration map in a old used book store in Virginia, while I was attending a printmaking conference at VCU. I was instantly attracted to the map, but unsure of what to do with it.

My work at the time was dealing with portraiture and the body. I began to notice the parallels between the lines on one's body (such as fingerprints) and the lines on the map. I started to focus solely on the lines in the maps--I wanted to remove them from the rest of the map and still incorporate the themes of portraiture and the body: thus emerges the If you were a place you'd be... map portrait series.

The map portraits are 2D, cut paper representations of people made out of the road lines of maps. Each model gets to choose which place they would like to be represented as. (Example above)

Two Bostons 2009, Cut map

Moving forward with the maps, I wanted to focus on the material itself and see how I could manipulate it. I decided to make a 3D sculpture of my head out of map. This project took two cut maps of Boston to complete. This sculptural portrait takes on a mask-like quality, which is a concept I'm interested in working with in future projects.

Opening Reception

After a year of planning, Laura and my show, Behind Our Scenes, opened this past Friday. The opening reception was a huge success. Tons of people came for the opening, and everyone had such positive things to say about the show concept and the art. All 34 of the artists in the show should be proud! The band Meeting of Important People and DJ Mary Mack entertained the audience, and the large crowd devoured all of our food and drinks. Seeing the final product made every bit of stress worthwhile.

Visit this flickr link for some wonderful images of the opening courtesy of Jeffrey Perry and City Creative.