A Statement

With my art, I like to evoke empathy and communicate with my audience. If my audience feels an emotional response or feels enlightened by what is presented, I consider my work successful. More often than I not, I like to provide a different set of eyes, a different perspective for audiences to explore. This stems from my diverse background and seeing differing cultures through different sets of eyes. With this as my inspiration, I will continue making works that are valued by the public on an individual emotional basis.

A Statement

my goal when making a piece is to let the viewer into my world. I want the viewer to see what I see as I see it, and to feel what I feel when experiencing it.

A Statement

I was born at the end of an era of typewriters, letters, and rotary phones: methods of communication that demand a physical and tactile presence. Growing up in Pennsylvania’s coal regions led me to investigate the Industrial Revolution and its demise. I document what is lost in transition and question our blind faith in progress.

While wandering through abandoned factories, mines and ghost towns, I became fascinated with the empty spaces inside, heavy with the weight of abandoned technology. The typewriter (an “individualized press”) as well as Taylorism’s “Time and Motion Studies” ironically standardized the motions and communications of every operator. I have found a direct connection to these actions through the historically commercial use of printmaking.

In response to the anxieties of separation from the physical world, I render the fading remnants of industry through outdated forms of media and communication

A Statement

I try to take every opportunity to do the best I can, but in having to write this statement I realized just how difficult I find it to articulate or actually allow myself to focus on things that I conditioned myself to believe I am not good at. In turn, those thoughts lead me to think that I surround my life with barriers or even veils. Then, I realized that those same barriers and veils always seem to find a way in my work. I work intuitively for the most part. I don’t start off with big concepts, just a few ideas. I go with the flow of things during the process of creating, and then look back and question what is there.

I currently work with childhood imagery by using pictures from the past and the present environments that surround me and have surrounded me. I have come to realize that these current works are perhaps manifestations of how I currently view myself, and not so much about the pictures or my present surroundings. Yet, these images and environments help express my ideas. The faded shadow/silhouette in the video expresses the uncontrollable. I realized that the person in the video is not in control of the situation she is in, and perhaps that is an expression of how I presently feel. I do not feel in control or safe in my present circumstance. The layers in my work are like the patterns that make up our memories. These patterns are distorted and reside on different planes, and provide an image that is true and yet not true in its translucency. The imagery used is of the present, but is put in a sort of distorted context reflecting on both past and present. The images are from the present, and my memories are from both past and present. The undefined spaces between the two are those barriers and veils that seem to manipulate the present. Many of the images have varying layers and translucencies that seem to be symbolic of different feelings, but I feel I need to further investigate this idea. Some of the memories are very fragile and in these I intentionally leave all layers undefined, where they all seem to meld into each other. These also usually deal with loved ones and the idea that all things fade out and cease to exist. I believe that my work will always be inspired by my life and how my psychological make-up causes me to view things in my perspective. I am trying to view the work from a different perspective, but realize that I still view it through my attachment to the positive and negative thoughts that I seem to constantly create, rather than viewing it from a detached point of view. I am not sure if I will ever be capable of detaching myself from my work.

A Statement

“These pine trees smell like cleaning products.” I’ll be honest. I’m worried about everyone. This includes myself. As I attempt to navigate the adult world, with all of its structures, I’m finding a few things to be alarmingly apparent to me. Most prominently, I’m not very good at this sort of navigation, and many people who seem to have an easy time with this are also either admittedly and openly unhappy, or at least exhibit such behaviors with a certain level of acceptance of reality as being some sort of harsh wake up from innocent dreaming. Many of our own experiences are relatable only to commercial products, as these comprise most of our contact with things that fall outside of the moderated margins of ‘normalcy’. The other thing I can’t help noticing is that in instances where I’m doing right by society’s standards, I catch myself starting to slip in those directions. These structures that have imposed themselves upon our very thinking have very little to do with reality, however. They have little to do with ourselves, or each other. They have little to do with how we truly experience life and reality. In fact as far as I’m concerned, one of the best ways, then, that we can relate to true reality in our experiences is by thinking the way we did as children, before many of the structures had been constructed in our minds.

Using Carl Jung’s psychotherapeutic methods as a guide, I’m using my art in visual, experiential, and per-formative ways to help people reestablish their connections with other people, with their environment and their experiences, and with their self. I can only hope that my efforts are fruitful, because I consider it my primary ‘adult responsibility’.

A Statement

I draw, paint, record music and videos but not to impress. I am always striving to be better but never to be good. I don’t believe in “good” art and the only bad art in my mind is art with the wrong intention such as selling a product even if that product is you as an artist. My life motto is ( Make. Do. And Make Do. ) The make is my art, the do is activism, humanitarianism and general productivity, and the make do part is the rest of life taking whatever hand is dealt to you and using critical thinking to work with it.

Jeanette statement

Art has always been something intimidating but fascinating to me. Not because it is difficult, but because it has no central point of view, which is a difficult concept for me. Creating something completely unique is a chance to disregard common rules and conventions, and a chance to express my personal thoughts and ideas in a new way. It is a way to do so without worrying about “right” and “wrong,” but only about what effectively expresses the ideas I wish to portray through art. it is through art that I am able to step outside of the expectations of others and create a method of exposing any and every aspect of myself, from my point of view.

John Statement

I often think of how everyday materials will work rescaled in nanometers. Mostly I am concerned with the reconstruction of molecules in an object and giving it a strange twist in function. My goal as an artist is to use nanotechnology to inspire.

Brooke Statement

Forever interested in color, materials and books, I want to create objects and imagery that resemble day dreams and invoke a sense of play. My current mixed-media and printmaking work concerns itself with two interrelated sets of imagery. The insects operate as biological metaphor to address states of psychological relationships. The boxes, houses and interior references speak to home.

Alex statement

As an artist I believe it is pertinent to find and draw inspiration from your surroundings. Self generating ideas are too slow. When responding to your own environment, you can find the limitless accessibility of art and creativity. When navigating through my everyday life I am always looking for found objects and a photographic opportunity to incorporate in my art. If someone paints a shed and the paint decays from age, creating an interesting texture I could never make, I have the right to take a photo of it, manipulate it and call it my own. The majority of my art originates from random “happenings” that I come across. These happenings are unscheduled by me and typically overlooked by others. A happening may originate as a picture of a floor texture in an old farm house or a child playing by herself in an ally.

I like the idea of play, in order to better understand and cure my pessimistic natures. In all my work, I layer, re-use and recycle many images and mediums. Because it is the digital age, I have incorporated the use of the computer to further manipulate my images. The use of programs allows for quick changes and an extension to otherwise limited forms of art; however it is a necessity to work with my hands. Technology and commercialism create a disconnection between the user and the receiver. In response to that disconnection, I will always have a tangible aspect in a digital piece of art work. That is why I scan drawings or use textural photos. The presence of something real must exist for me. I am drawn to things with a history or antiquity. To me, digital art is the exact opposite of that.

Lindsay

My art is humorous and witty dance that is framed through the lens of a video camera. A distinct play on perspective and scale is often used, as the dancers appear larger or smaller than they really are. There is movement in the human body, camera and editing all creating an experience for the viewer.

Michelle

Art is a useful gift that I intend to incorporate in a lifestyle that inhabits personal joys. I believe that technology, design and artistic ambition are strong qualities in any project that I plan on making. I have a passion for the wedding and event planning industry but instead of incorporating typical aspects of event design I use personal planning as a canvas for an artistic work. In my future I would like to live by my own artistic expectations and open my own business. In the meantime, I use these life experiences to build a portfolio for what I would like to do down the road.

Kevin

I am an artist not by choice but as a result of being a technician. My art is the systems I create to display others works of art. To me, the artistic beauty is the inside of a rack, an organized wiring hookup, a well designed wiring schematic. My paintbrush is cable and my canvas is equipment. My satisfaction comes from people not noticing my work, but rather it being so natural that it just blends with the existing environment. Creating content to me is more of a byproduct of being a designer rather than the main focus.

James

As a dancer I find myself championing for the terms "art" and "artist" to be part of the every day parlance in my world. I speak of myself as a "movement artist" and talk about my choreography as "art," often at a time when I want to, consciously or not, validate or uplift my field. The ephemeral or non-tangible form of dance is difficult to grasp as art. People will group Theatre, Dance, Music, etc. into a performing arts category, but to say "I'm an artist" connotes something that rarely involves plies, tendus, and spinal articulation.


While labeling myself as an artist I see my approach to life as being central to this self-categorization. I can easily create movement, an installation, or a video, but the true worth to this endeavor lies in the attention I give to my aesthetic. Why do I feel more like an artist when I am hiking, listening to opera, or cooing a baby to sleep?--somehow these things feel like my aesthetic. The ending product often feels less important to me (i.e. what the motion project looks like) than the journey towards the product. I do not mean I sit with the camp of "process over product;" no, I appreciate and love having a deadline and producing/performing work. The "journey" I speak of relates to the attitude I have while approaching the work. What is important to me as a living breathing human is to be able to relate these experiences to other people in meaningful and hopefully life changing ways. As an artist this is paramount.

Brittany

I want my videos to express what has happened during my day, as well as how I felt when taping them. I prefer taping everyday activities because they are easy to relate to, but still interesting when the right twist is added. One goal I have of my work is put the viewer in a place of comfort or understanding. I mostly take video for documenting purposes. I like to look back on what I’ve done or what has happened around me (I have a bad memory).

Laura

I am an artist because I am uncertain, or perhaps I am uncertain because I am an artist. The uncertainty I have leads me to explore both traditional, but also new, modern mediums. While I may latch onto what was and is, I strive to understand what might be ahead. As a beginner, I should remember that I should not create a strict outline, by should attempt to define myself on a broader level. My art should not be exclusive, but should expand and engage society. Nevertheless, I want my art to reflect simplicity, because it is simplicity that often provides the most answers or provokes the most thoughtful reactions. Everyone connects and relates to the most simple parts of life because it is those moments which most long for. It is of this that I am certain.

Jonathan

I am the grandson of a coal miner from a small town in Plum Borough outside of Pittsburgh. The coal mine he worked in since he was thirteen years old now lays unused and neglected. I was born in Youngstown, Ohio eight years after the close of the last steel mill and lived there nearly two decades. My family spans the rust belt of America and has directly felt the effects of the death of the coal and steel industries. I was baptized, raised and confirmed in the Catholic Church. My artwork is based on these experiences, the experiences of my family, and more over the experiences of millions of the descendants of miners, or ex-Catholics, or those who pass the abandoned industrial parks of their hometowns every day.

Accumulation is a formal element of my work that draws from my background in fiber arts. My fixation on accumulation can be tied to witnessing rituals growing up. Whether they are spiritual or commonplace routines, rituals are a part of everyday life. Ritualism in Catholicism is a mixture of absurdity, pageantry and the sacred. This includes attendance at Mass, Holy Communion and Reconciliation, practicing penitence, and the prayers of the rosary. Everyday rituals are significantly simpler: shaving, transportation, going to the same task oriented job everyday, cooking, and housework. Conceptually, these ritual influences from my life augment the ritualism in my crafting and the art making process.

Transformation is an aspect in several of my pieces that can be attributed to the act of accumulation. By slowly building up subtle materials, a scale shift occurs from small to monumental. My pieces themselves are subtle at-a-glance but expressive and intricate when examined. Across a gallery, a viewer may miss my piece because of its muted color palette and material handling; however, the discovery benefits the piece by increasing intimacy between art and the viewer. Conceptually, my work is deliberately vague because my feelings are conflicted about the topics in my work. I view much of my family heritage and religious upbringing dualistically. For that reason I present both sides in my work. This allows for the viewer to: observe both sides, step into my world and make their own decision.

Matthew

As an artist, I am obsessed with the idea of looking at the mundane in an absurd way. I am curious of the unknown and relish in the ridiculous. The more I cannot understand, the more interested I become.

Henna

Why Am I An Artist

I ask myself this question at least once a day and most of the time my answer is “I have no freaking clue.” My childhood dream when I grew up was to be an artist. As a student at OSU and a fine arts/film studies major I am making my childhood dream come true. This dream of mine has been in my heart and mind for over 15 years now and I am an artist to make this dream come alive.

When I create something, an assignment for class or something just for fun, I am in complete bliss. I get in this zone where nothing can burst my invisible bubble. The pieces that come out of this period of zen can be either art or not. Art is subjective, especially as a student, some people may think a creation is art where as someone else may say that its not, its more of a homework assignment or a hobby.

Everything I create I consider art, especially if it is a class assignment and/or it is in a medium I am not familiar with. I hope my work can just be appreciated as art. I want people to watch my videos, play with the interactive ceramic pieces, enjoy staring at the paint on stretched canvas. I want people to embrace the feeling of serenity, hilarity, or even craziness I feel when the pieces are created.

Jared

I find myself drawn to working on things that are very much so technology oriented and sometimes seem to be beyond my abilities. I often approach work currently based on prompts received in a class or through discussion with professors within the classroom. I often like to challenge myself while doing work to try things that are outside of my comfort zone, especially if it allows me to learn a new technique for creating something.

I tend to set out a plan in the beginning of a project and then use that as more of a guideline than a recipe for my works. I enjoy letting things happen spontaneously and try to let my work create its own feeling during the process of creation. I feel allowing my work to become something I had not planned on is something I do often, because I find it intriguing how even the best laid plans can result in the unexpected. Most of my work stems from frustration and urgency more than anything, largely because I often take far too long to decide what direction I want to go in, and less time working.

Currently my work is largely based in the technology side of art and predominantly within the computer itself. I have recently begun 3d modeling and am really excited about the possibilities it presents for bringing my thoughts into a visual piece.

Domenique

As art I want my work to be something that will inspired thought and hopefully new ideas in the viewer. I try to create work that is aesthetically pleasing as well as highly conceptual.

John

The peas video project documents objects being created from the ground up and the natural benefits from doing so. Clips are taken from the documentation process of growing and eating Giant Oregon Pea Pods. The clips range from half-second to two-second durations. A musical accompaniment to the collage of videos gives a fun romp to the scenes as you go through the growing cycles. There are also naturalistic sounds heard allowing the viewer to enter the plants environment, and then help me wash, cook, and devour the pea pods. Documenting the peas growth was enjoyable and I wanted to express this in the video.

Cassandra's statement

Being an artist is my way of engaging with the world. This process of engagement is multi-faceted as it includes critical thinking, reflection, creation, and assessment of the work itself. I am an artist because it heightens my awareness as a human being. Hopefully this awareness leads to a greater understanding of what creates a meaningful existence not just for myself, but also for those who might experience my work. It is through art that intricacies of emotions and desires can be expressed in a way different than that of words.

It is difficult, yet crucial to be in a constant state critique. What does this mean? Why is this idea of interest to me? What consequences will occur I follow through with this action? These are questions that I constantly ask, and must continue to ask myself. It is not merely a way of thinking, but a way to living. Although it is not just acting in the face of art, or art as a response to life, for they do not oppose each other. Art and life must never be separated. As an artist, it is important for me that no matter how esoteric some thoughts might become, that they are never removed from actions and the physical body of life. It is here where we reside, so art should reside as well.

Michelle's statement

Not many people can say they have lived on a floating city in the middle of an ocean. Well, I have, and one of the only things that kept my mind sane was taking time out and entertaining myself with television, movies and videos. I think of video art as a morale booster; something that others can use to take their minds off the things that worry them. As an artist, I want to continue to use art as a morale booster for myself and others. I want to tell stories that entertain, inform and please others. I will do what I love and love what I do for the rest of my life.

David's statement

When I create art, whether I’m drawing, painting, or editing video I am creating something that reflects my artistic background, my ethnicity, my family, and my personal esthetics. Although, when I say ‘my own’ I do not mean to speak of myself as some kind of great modernist thinker, but as an artist that has been shaped by a post modern world. I create art that pleases myself first and foremost, but I do usually have in mind what type of emotional response that I am trying to evoke from my viewers. In fact, during my creative process I am extremely conscientious of what other people are going to think of my work, and or, what I want them to think of when they are viewing my work. The whole process is very is very psychological and utilizes a great deal of knowledge about our American culture; at least from my perspective. Specifically, for the last couple of years I have been motivated to create art that combats racial stereotypes as well as just the plan old racism that seems to linger on in this country; in our popular culture, in our political institutions, and in everyday life. Though, I will admit, this topic does seem to be something that you would think our country would have healed from by now, but never the less it remains. Growing up in Whitehall Ohio, and even when I arrived on OSU campus I have continued to encounter and see a great deal of racism, discrimination, and bigotry which has propelled me to act on this deeply embedded issue in our society and culture in general. However, I always create art that pleases myself and reflects my personal esthetics. In particular, I have always been attracted to surrealists’ artworks for their ability to bend or alter reality. As such, I want my own artwork to at times ‘alter” reality whether it’s a negative racial stigma, or just a simple story that I want to convey.