Mixed Media
Title: Breakthrough
Medium: Mixed Media
Size: 22 cm x 7 cm
3 April 2016
Exhibition Text
"Breakthrough" is a piece that represents someone overcoming an alcohol addiction. The purpose is to show that something fragile can be strong. This piece is meant to inspire people to have hope, that even the darkest moment in their life and turn out bright. This piece was inspired by Margaret Dowell, an artist who paints social commentary works about mental illness, violence, addiction, and gender blending. It also relates to a personal experience of the artist witnessing someone with an alcohol addiction, and fighting it. All objects were found for creating this piece.
Medium: Mixed Media
Size: 22 cm x 7 cm
3 April 2016
Exhibition Text
"Breakthrough" is a piece that represents someone overcoming an alcohol addiction. The purpose is to show that something fragile can be strong. This piece is meant to inspire people to have hope, that even the darkest moment in their life and turn out bright. This piece was inspired by Margaret Dowell, an artist who paints social commentary works about mental illness, violence, addiction, and gender blending. It also relates to a personal experience of the artist witnessing someone with an alcohol addiction, and fighting it. All objects were found for creating this piece.
Process
My ideas about artists/inspirations, intentions, and experiences.
1. Artists/Inspirations: I was interested in the theme of addiction, and while researching I came across Margaret Dowell, a well accomplished artist who addresses the theme of addiction in some of her paintings. Website: http://addictionandart.org/share01.html 2. Intentions: My intention was to create a mixed media piece to show how fragile alcohol or any addiction can be. I wanted to show how easily damaged a person can be, from lacking strength. However, I wanted to show that a fragile mindset or personality has the ability to be strong. 3. Experience: I watched someone close to me experience a slight alcohol addiction, and seen how badly it affects relationships, and behavior. However, they were able to breakthrough from the addiction and I wanted to show that even the darkest time in ones life can see a positive outcome. Procedure First, I set up three bottles with corks and filled the first one with black paint. Second, I wrapped the middle bottle in newspaper and smashed the top with a hammer. I then filled it with paint and added paint on the broken pieces that fell off. Finally, I wrapped the last bottle in newspaper and broke it all then rearranged it and painted each piece of broken glass. |
Planning Sketches
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Different angles of my piece.
Meaning Behind Piece
Within this piece, I want to show negativity being bottled up into something that can easily break. It is questionable whether the negativity is broken or if they are themselves. I decided to fill the glass bottles with black paint, as it represents mystery. However, this piece portrays strength and power, rather than weakness. In my experience, I've seen someone be filled with negativity from an alcohol addiction and witnessed the changes in their behavior, actions, and appearance. I saw how easy it was to worsen the addiction, which is represented by the fragile glass bottles. Although glass is easy to break, unlike an addiction, I am trying to show that there is hope, and a fight they are capable of winning.
Artist Inspiration
Margaret Dowell paints social commentary works in oils. Her paintings, which have addressed mental illness, violence, addiction and gender bending have been called "edgy", "in your face", and more politely, "food for the open minded."
Website: http://www.margaretdowell.com/index.htm "Margaret Dowell's art has a clear purpose. Her stunning portraits are stories of intense psychological battles. Whether portraying depression's destructive power or addiction's consuming force, her art reveals how debilitating these battles can be and the strength needed to overcome them." -Dr. Patricia Santora, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Deputy Director of the Innovators Combating Substance Abuse Awards Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In "Breakthrough" I wanted to show the power of defeating an addiction so I used the same concept as Margaret of shattering, however instead of pills I used glass. |
Reflection
I had many ideas I wanted to pursue including: constructing a shadow sculpture, creating paper mache masks with different expressions, and building something outdoors with sticks. Then I decided to take an idea from my Organic vs. Industrial piece of negative thoughts and wanted to narrow it. I found it interesting being able to combine different materials. Also, it was a fairly easy project to construct. I plan on adding more to this piece, to show more of a story. I will do this by adding two more bottles in the beginning: one empty, and one half full with black paint. Overall, I am satisfied with the outcome of my piece.