Art as Liminal Space exhibition: Nov 5 – Dec 13, 2012

Exhibition card for “Art as Liminal Space” 2012

I have a painting that was accepted in the upcoming alumni exhibit for JFK University:  November 5-December 13, 2012!  There is a reception which I plan on attending on Saturday, November 10th from 6-9pm.  If you’re in the area, I hope you have the chance to come by and see some great art, meet the artists, and hear some insights into this process of artmaking.  The address is 2956 San Pablo Ave. 2nd floor, Berkeley, CA.

My Artist’s Statement for this show:

When I find myself in liminal space, looking for something unknown in the unnamed, I see Spirit breezing by in one form or another.   Occasionally it’s crystal clear but for my paintings as of late, the images are vague and ethereal.  Still, there is Knowing.  In this place I am forced to slow down and be aware of what is going on around me even if I can’t see it clearly.

During this journey in sunset coloured liminality, I am in a space of familiar creatures: furry and mysterious with sharp teeth.  They dance quickly between the doorways but not so quick that I glimpse the edges of a fox tail inviting me to follow.  I must let go of where I came from to be here, yet bring it all back when my brush touches canvas:  this is a memorable space even in its mutability.  This loose mix of consciousness is something I try to bring with me outside of the studio, into my world of daily life and to those who are willing to risk a moment to enter the imagery I have returned with.

Flyer for “Art as Liminal Space” exhibition 2012

From the flyer:

Liminality has been defined as the “realm of pure possibility.”  When speaking in terms of art as liminal space, art becomes a rite of passage, a sensory threshold by which we can traverse shifting levels of personal conscious awareness.  In JFK University’s Arts & Consciousness program, the consciousness transforming perspective of art as liminal space is emphasized.  Therefore, this exhibition focuses on work by Arts & Consciousness alumni that is liminal in nature.

For more information about my work you can subscribe to my blog and find other articles by Rory Dean here.  Your questions and commentary are welcome!

Kitsune’s Glade

Panel 1 for Kitsune’s Glade
(c)MKSmith 2003
Ink on Bristol

Miss Kitsune emerged from her den the other day:  This is a comic I started for my university newspaper.

I was contacted by one of the editors who had heard there was an artist in the program who made comics.  We spoke over the phone a few times about what this assignment would entail which turned out to be free reign for me and occasional deadlines.  Perfect in-between get away for me with the papers, projects, and Senior Editing position for an anthology comic I was managing going on!

So what to do?  I was still working on Blood Roses, which was/is a full comic book series.  I decided, or rather the star of that show “D” decided that he didn’t want to run a comic strip too.  So I thought about it and waited for that new spark of inspiration to settle on my page of bristol paper.  After a few days a fox in a cute dress ran through, leaving a trail of daisies behind her.  I thought this would be perfect and completely opposite of what I was already working on.  The fox thought so too.

So what was her story?  I had to start right away but didn’t see an epic unfolding in a week.  I thought about the stories I’d heard around me in my classes:  The common thread of students moving from other places despite all odds stacked against them in pursuit of their passion of art-making.  I thought this would be a good start for this new character to reflect what many of us were going through during school at the Master’s level.  I kept in mind my new, soon-to-be audience and after some chats with fellow artists, I decided that was the way to go.  And yes, so did the editor of the paper!

So here is Kitsune (Kit-su-nee) at the start of her journey from her country home to pursue life in the big city.  I’ll post more strips as I find them!  I’d love to hear any comments/feedback/response art/ etc. you may have.  Cheers!