Odyssey 1095
An exhibition of three sedulous MFA studiomates at the culmination of their journey through graduate school. While on this voyage, these souls forged friendships, sought self-determination, and fostered validation in themselves and each other. These three collections of work encapsulate 1095 days of assiduous development just as the next horizon dawns.
On display at the Greenville Museum of Art March 22nd to April 20th. Opening reception and artist talks Friday, April 5th 5–8pm.
Artist statements below ↓
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Chris Zidek
Futurity
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Lee Turner
Degrowth & Design
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Loraine Scalamoni
Capturing Essence
Chris Zidek • Artist Statement
“Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them”
—David Hume
Elegant, labor-intensive surfaces and a high level of craftsmanship are essential to my studio practice. The act of creating, working with my hands, and transforming basic materials feels akin to alchemy. The hope is that the result is something greater than the sum of its parts. I aim for a level of visual experience in my work that can only come from precise fabrication, carefully layered surface finish, and sumptuous hand-crafted detail.
This body of work celebrates the richness of color, translucency, reflectivity, curvilinear geometry, and high craftsmanship. Within these low-relief works, dimension, depth, and mirrored luminosity arise from an ongoing dialogue between digital design and human craftsmanship. The objective is to make both approaches more visible by setting up a dichotomy. I combine emerging technologies and materials with traditional craft approaches and finishes. My work involves an interplay between 2D and 3D formal choices. I redirect methods of building that are intended to expedite and invest time and careful handwork into them. These juxtapositions of what would seem like opposing methods converge in a way that is uncanny and evocative. The combination of familiar and unfamiliar draws the viewer in for a closer look.
Like any artist throughout time, I take inspiration from many sources and distill morsels of this inspiration into my work. From Art Nouveau, I have borrowed the combination of curvilinear surfaces, the illusion of fluidity, and the virtuosity of fine technique. From Mid-Century Modernist movements, I have incorporated a focus on basic formal properties such as line, color, and scale. From the Light and Space Movement, I have taken the use of unconventional materials and the desire to create a mysterious experience for the viewer. Ultimately what these movements have in common is their prioritization of mastery, technical skill, and excellent craftsmanship. I share in their deep connection to craftsmanship and the sense that it is somehow a moral obligation. It is essential.
Lee Turner • Artist Statement
My work delves into degrowth, a philosophy that advocates for a deliberate reduction in economic output—with the goal of achieving harmony between humanity and nature. I am challenging the status quo and exploring alternative ways of acting, thinking, and being that prioritize ecological health and human flourishing. This work includes information design reflecting data on my degrowth practices. I am presenting these data using letterpress printing and considering data humanism. Creating data visualizations in this tactile medium generates a deep connection between myself as a maker and the message I am sharing. Additionally, my work covers approaches to incorporating degrowth principles in design work. Design practitioners can analyze our work to illuminate our role in environmental degradation and (re)producing hierarchies based on human difference. Designing with degrowth in mind recenters ecological and social impacts.
Loraine Scalamoni • Artist Statement
In my thesis work, Capturing Essence, I explore my curiosity and perception of people through portraiture. I paint through intuition and observation, often learning about my subjects through conversations we have. Each portrait tells a story of the sitter through their pose, my use of color, and, in some cases, the inclusion of objects that are significant to the person’s life. It is not just their likeness I want to capture, but a feeling of who they are as an individual or a moment that reflects on the human condition.
