A Statement

My work is both an autobiography and exploration of the forms and phenomena that interest me. Much of my work explores the diseases and illnesses that, both great and small, have impacted my life. As opposed to just illustrating the condition, I synthesize my experiences with both the causes and effects of the affliction.

In addition to my medical history I use a childhood spent in rural Maine as a source of inspiration for my work. Having been raised in the woods, I was something of a child naturalist and my observations and experiments are still providing me with fodder for art.

It is always my intent to create a beautiful and disturbing image and experience. I want the work to linger. I want to challenge the way beauty is recognized within the context of my work. I want to relate my experience, to that of the viewer. For the most part, we all share a common reality and I try to remember that and use it to my advantage when creating work.

Bonnie's statement

I hope that my art video will persuade the audience that, as an artist, my body is my canvas. I want to show the expressiveness of my hair and make-up, and how they are ever-changing and reflective of my various moods and personalities. As an artist, I like to be bold, innovative, and occasionally throw caution to the wind. When it comes to my appearance, I don't care what other people think of me, nor do I try to fit-in.

I like to sh= ock people, and whether they love it, or hate it, I am never just someone in the crowd. Sometimes my colorful appearance is a good conversation starter, and sometimes it just speaks for itself.

Alicia's Statement

When I create art, I intend to express myself. Art lets me use all of my emotions and passions and put them together into a visual work. All of my pieces give off a feeling that I was trying to convey at the time of creating.

My goal in art making is to bring back to the surface the hidden beauty that surrounds us. We are stuck in a world ruled by the media and superficial obsessions. This hidden beauty may be found in our physical world, fantasy world, or in one’s emotional complex. This specific short film was a new experiment for myself. I wanted to give off a weird sense of eeriness to engage the audience and keep them intrigued.

My inspiration comes mostly from the minimalist artists. I am a complete advocate for “less is more”. My interest in past work also extends to those eccentric individuals, such as Dali, who are willing to take risks. I like to stir things up and create something different to provoke a new thought or feeling in someone. I focus on sparking a new interest or idea in someone just by one look.

Faustine's Statement

I like the idea of being a creator, and with art, it’s all about creating. For me, the process and the result are both important. The result is what people see, but the process is everything it takes to get to the result. There’s something therapeutic about going through the process and getting the result. It’s a sort of satisfaction that I can’t get from anything else in life. Also, art-making is partially my way of showing people who I am. I like the idea of people learning about who I am through my art without them explicitly knowing it. I hope my work entertains and engages my viewers.

George's Statement

How to make my favorite casserole

by George T. Gregory Jr.


Mexi-Cali Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey

1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce

1 sm. onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves of minced garlic

1 8 oz. can of corn (or half a bag of frozen corn)

1 package of taco seasoning

1 large can of dark kidney beans (rinsed and drained)

Topping:

2 packages of Jiffy Cornbread Mix

2 eggs (needed for Mix)

1 cup of milk (needed for Mix)

Directions:

Brown the ground turkey in a skillet and drain; add chopped onion and garlic during the browning process. Add remaining ingredients and spread into a 13 x 17 inch casserole pan. Follow the directions on the boxes of Jiffy Cornbread Mix and spread the mix on top of the casserole. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy.