2013 BFA Senior Exhibition - Un/Controlled Outcomes

In addition to being an intern, student, barista, and sane(ish) person this semester; I also am participating in the Cardinal Stritch University Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition! (CSU BFA Senior Exhibition)

More pictures and info after the jump!

Artist Spotlight - Keng Lye - Alive Without Breath

For those of us lucky enough to have functional eyes (or glasses, like me), we sure rely on them a lot. (At least, I know I do) I mean, if we didn't, there's wouldn't be the whole "I'll believe it when I see it" saying. Now check out that turtle above. As realistic as that seems, it's not real. It's actually a three-dimensional painting in resin. Inspired by japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori, Keng Lye creates these paintings with layers of resin and layers of paint. That picture above is actually when the work was in progress. Here's the finished piece:

This series of three dimensional paintings is called "Alive Without Breath." By layering epoxy resin and acrylic paint, the animals (usually fish) are painted meticulously, layer by layer, the sandwiched slices revealing slightly more about each creature, similar to the function of a 3D printer. I love that this rides the line between painting and sculpture. Check out some pictures of the process below!

In progress

Amy Wilson Faville - Carts

One of the great strengths of good art is the power of perspective. You may look at something every day, pass it by and not give it a second thought. Amy Wilson Faville's Carts takes the beauty of mixed media and brings new light and a new perspective to the national crisis of the homeless. 

Wagon Train - 2007

These carts are based on the actual shopping carts of the homeless in San Francisco’s Mission District. 

Fixie - 2009

You can see more of her series "Carts" here.

Magic Carpet Ride - 2007

In an interview, Faville discusses how she lets her surroundings inspire her work. She moved from San Francisco to Oakland last year and started a different but similar project:

 "Since moving to Oakland a year ago, I've been photographing the things that people dump on the sidewalk. I'm interested in the narratives suggested by the contents of these piles (a teddy bear, a bolt of fabric, a suitcase, a seemingly new Ikea couch), and in the tableaux created by heaps of discarded belongings in the midst of a street, which I see as a metaphor for economic and societal collapse. I use these photos as references for paintings (oil on canvas). Translating the images into paintings allows me to make them more beautiful and seductive, enticing the viewer into looking at (and thinking about) something they might ordinarily turn away from. "

Caravan - 2007

 She also said that through these projects, she hopes to turn images of squalor into images of splendor. I think these are awesome. I also like how she changes the mood of each piece with the background tone.