Parsons MFA Thesis Exhibition May 13th!

I am happy to announce the MFA Thesis exhibition for the Parsons class of 2010 at The Kitchen gallery!

MFA Thesis Show

The Kitchen

512 W 19th Street, New York NY

May 13-22

Opening reception: May 13, 6-8pm

Open Studios Preview: May 7th 6-8pm

Parsons Fine Arts Building

25 East 13th Street

New York, NY

Participating Artists: Nana Asante, Josh Bricker, Daniel Carlson, Yen-Ting Chung, Casey James Diskin, Morgan Ersery, Danielle Goldsmith, Mona Kamal, John Lee, Loretta Lomanto, Bojan Mitrevski, Tom Pnini, Rayna Savrosa, Nicholas Shifrin, Alexandria Smith, Tomoe Tsutsumi, John Wanzel, Mary Younkin, and Michelle Yu.

Here are a few recent works in my studio:

Untitled_Trash Cans. Oil on canvas, 4'x3'. 2010

Play with Me, Ink and Acrylic on wood panel, 7"x5", 2010.

Tracing Utopia Wall Drawing #3: Parsons 5th Floor Stairwell

Another wall drawing completed, this time in response to the 5th floor stairwell in the Parsons Fine Arts department. I used the existing architecture, and responded to it with the choice of projection, as well as incorporating outlines of the shadows of the existing objects.

installation view, south wall

detail of drawing with response to fire hose

installation view, north wall at top of stairs

Tracing Utopia: Wall Drawing #2

This second drawing was created in Presentation Space 1 in the Parsons Fine Arts department the first week of March. The installation space is approximately 10' x 20'. This image is a composite of 5 different photographs, altered and fit together to create the feeling of walking down a street in a suburban neighborhood. The horizon line is above the line of sight, providing a floating oasis of dissolving imagery.

Above is a detail of the car from the left side of the piece, using myself to show the scale.

This is a overall shot of the back wall horizon line. It was very difficult to get full photographs of the space.

Wide shot of the right side wall

detail of right side wall

Tracing Utopia: Wall Drawing #1

One of my recent projects has been a series of wall drawings, which take place in various locations throughout the Parsons Fine Arts building. Here is the first one, featured in the 25 East Gallery exhibition "In Response to Fundamentalism" in February. The drawings are created with water-based ink applied directly on the wall. The images of suburban neighborhoods are both appearing and dissolving into the space, creating an impermanence and fragility.

full view of installation in 25 East Gallery, NYC

detail of Tracing Utopia

Opening Reception: In Response to Fundamentalism

Having a week to organize an exhibition was no easy feat for Loretta Lomanto and myself. But being the badass ladies we are, we pulled it off, with thanks to the contributing artists. Here are some photos from the opening reception on Wednesday:

detail of my piece, "Tracing Utopia", ink drawing on the wall

i'm chatting with my bf Greg and his friend Claire in front of "Tracing Utopia".

artist Tom Pnini seems suspicious of the artsy crowd.

MFA candidates enjoying the first show of 2010 in the 25 East Gallery.

Anthony Aziz, professor and also former Director of the Parsons MFA program, is always the life of the party!

Superhero Pnini! Wall drawing titled "Book Wars" by Josh Bricker

Superhero faculty Andrea Geyer and Anthony Aziz

Digital Artwork by Loretta Lomanto. This piece is titled "The Wedding"

A fine-looking group of Parsons fine artists

from left: Thomas O'Grady, Beom Do Seo, Brendan McCarthy, Andrea Geyer, Adelaid Harrison, Nana Asante, Gene Kim, Mona Kamal, and Mary Younkin

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the show!

Exhibition: In Response to Fundamentalism

A group exhibition, organized by myself and Loretta Lomanto, will open at 25 East Gallery at 25 E13th Street, New York City, this Wednesday February 17th.

Fundamentalism: • noun 1 a form of Protestant Christianity which upholds belief in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible. 2 the strict maintenance of the ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion or ideology.

In the history of art making, these select artists have used their works to rebel or respond to fundamentalisms present in their society. The artists chosen for this exhibition have responded to fundamentalism in various ways and methods. Whether at the forefront of their practice, or in response to personal histories, fundamental beliefs are being challenged, reflected upon, with new ideas created. Whether in response to power, familial and societal repression, global responses to cultural suppression, Religion, and limits on sexuality, this exhibit hopes to broaden the Contemporary dialogue of rebellion.

beginning again to begin again

The new year has been rich so far with the beginning of the last semester in the Parsons MFA program. I have been working on several paintings, and working from photos taken in the suburbs of Southern California. You can see the progress in my studio below.

As Michael Auping wrote of Robert Bechtle's photorealistic paintings of California in the 70s, I also wish to "create a slightly incomplete portrait of the American experience. At the same time, there is a certain emptiness in these scenes, a disturbing suggestion of incomplete lives".

My goals in this thesis semester are to pursue this "dark underbelly" in my work, the thread which has always existed, but has lacked strong presence. Like a stranger standing behind me, I can hear it's breathe, I can feel the goosebumps running along my arm, but can't quite grasp the sense of unease.

adding elements to photos using photoshop

3'x4' painting in progress in the studio

tomorrow is here!

some may call it messy, i call it inspiration