frames of reference

( 2014 ) For my new series Frames of Reference I have begun an inquiry into the contextual relationship my work holds, not just to my own life, but also into the larger ‘historical’ art experience. Lately certain questions have come to mind, which will eventually be answered through visual and creative means rather than over-thinking. These are a few of the questions that present themselves as I begin this process.

Why do I splash paint the way I do? Is this my signature?
Why does the whiteness of the gesso make my heart beat faster? Do I have anxiety of the unknown?
Why do I think in Portuguese when painting?
Why do I think being an engineer did not help my art? Or, did it?
Why do I respond to the art I respond to and admire the artists I do?
Who are the artists of my creative lineage?

Through my work I relate personal yet universal concepts of pain, sorrow, love, fear and hope through visual means. Yet creating historical context for my work can add valuable insight as well. While I am unsure of the answers to my questions just yet, when I pay attention and become aware of certain influences I relate to the work more deeply. This awareness makes me slow down; witness the painting more carefully as it unfolds with each mark and splash of paint.

With this in mind, I began Frames of Reference, by placing magazine pages and newspapers on the bare wood panels before applying gesso. While working I noticed, with each brushstroke my awareness shifted to certain influences such as my roots in Brazilian culture and Catholicism. For many of the pieces a word, always in Portuguese, became dominant in my mind, which I then incorporated into the painting. Analogous to the way memory works some of the original images became blurred in the background or covered completely, while others were vivid, crystal clear and foregrounded in consciousness. This exhibition is the beginning of a vertical drop into my creative practice, an exploration of visual analysis through awareness and connection to the work itself.