friday oct 2 - 31, 2009
artist reception: friday oct 2, 6-8pm

WILD TYPE

The term Wild Type refers to the typical form or characteristic of an organism as it occurs in nature, as distinguished from variant forms that may result from selective breeding or mutation. In genetics, wild-type organisms serve as the original parent strain before a deliberate mutation is introduced. Referencing microbiology and genetics, I explore forms and processes that unfold and reverberate in nature while striving to convey an environment in flux, shaped by natural forces or manipulated by the human desire to understand and control nature.

Applying drops of paint, I create building blocks that define a network of interrelated components animated by subtle modulations of shape, color, and pattern. Within this limited framework, I compose a picture of nature at a fundamental level where the wild type offers keys that can unlock the mysteries of life.

EX VIVO

Ex vivo (Latin: “out of the living”) means that which takes place in an artificial environment outside the organism. In science, this allows for experimentation or procedures on cells, tissue, or organs, in a controlled environment apart from the larger organism.

The small paintings in the series Ex Vivo were done as experiments in preparation for larger, more complex pieces. Here, I explore color relationships, paint viscosity, drying time, and effects derived from the different chemical properties of the mediums I use. In a sense, this mirrors ex vivo experimentation which, in the context of art, are studies that allow for exploration of new ideas and techniques.

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