Sample Artist Statements


Please break into groups of 3-5 and critique the following artist statements.

Example #1

t.s. eliot spoke of how the present shapes the past as much as the past affects the present. These paintings aspire to blur the distinction between the two and enter into a free-flowing dialogue between my present and my past. They ask fundamental questions as to the nature of time, the nature of change, and the meaning of invention. The ambition, which inspres their making, is to step outside of the linear, chronological unfolding of events and celebrate the eternal present that is the time art shapes.

Example #2

The works deal with a fragmentary corporeality which seeks its stimulation in the natural sciences, such as botany and neurology. The drawings construct and illustrate an intellectual model of deconstruction of corporeality and the search for unity. The central question here is the sense of time. Do different time levels exist parallel to each other? Does the unity of the individual exist in time, which is characterized by acceleration, rotation, and speed? The drawings reflect an internal world view which revolves around fragment, unity, and rupture. The simple pencil drawings are made on former construction plans, on the reverse sides are old sketches of pattern designs. The structure of the folds and the paper collage further emphasize this vision.

Example #3

I began using a typewriter for its obvious function- to record my thoughts and ideas. Communicating is a crucial yet constant struggle for me. The more I typed, the more letters and words on the pages began to take on a new function, a new language. M discovery of this new language created with my typewriter and paper was one made up of patterns and grids formed by punctuation marks: commas, colons, apostrophes and brackets. It was as if the typewriter was experiencing a breakdown, and this breakdown was my breakthrough. I had discovered a new way to communicate. There is an endless source of information that can be created through a limited use of materials: paper and a typewriter. I became, and am still, intrigued by this process.


Example #4

To maintain the highest standards, I personally perform all the creative aspects involved in my work. I expose each photograph utilizing available light to capture the natural color and beauty of the subject. No filters or additional lighting is used during my image taking. I print each photograph utilizing traditional darkroom techniques and work only from large format (4" X 5") or medium format (6cm. X 7cm.) color negatives. These larger negatives have superior clarity resulting in a much sharper print. Each photograph is then mounted and matted using acid-free museum board. I do all this work personally without the use of any apprentices or assistants.

Artist Statement materials adapted from Full-Time Artist Program from the New York Foundations for the Arts and the National Association of Independent Artists (http://naia-artists.org).