Matt Wood
"Mom's in Prison"
October 1 - 31, 2010
Artist Reception: Friday, October 1st
8-11 PM
CONCEPT:
A series of paintings with acrylics on Mylar exploring society's pursuit of the criminal and the affects of incarceration on a human scale.
STATEMENT:
This body of work is rooted in my own personal experiences as the son of a mother in prison.
It is a reflection of the helplessness I felt in the destructive chaos that severed and then reunited my relationship with my mom. During the time of my mother's incarceration, I empathized with her separation, isolation, and the mourning for time lost. Her circumstances provided a perspective on the society we attempt to maintain and the lengths we will go for the sake of keeping the good separated from the bad. It made me question what my role is in this perceived dichotomy.
I applied these concepts by incorporating suggestions of narrative and by utilizing methodical compositions on a material that relates to the translucency of society's plethora of layers. The Mylar and acrylic really come together as an actual sort of object - they have a nice weight.
Compared to painting on canvas, wood, or paper, Mylar has an abundance of openness, which suggests an airy depth or an atmospheric quality inherent in the material itself. It "breaths" or has breath to me…
The approach, process, and execution of my work demonstrates the necessity to explore more than one side of the problems presented to us, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.
BIO:
I started small, blonde, and bare-footed on the hot pavement of Arizona. My parents raised me the best they knew how, with a little help from friends, family, TV, and various neighbors from various neighborhoods. After exploring an array of lifestyles on the west coast of America, I settled down to earn my BFA at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, which is where I work, play and live today.
Call the gallery director for advance purchase info: (323) 666-7667.