Detail View: University Art Galleries (UMassD): Composite (Kathleen 2)

Re/Figure: gods + monsters

January - March 2007

2007

University Art Gallery (UMass Dartmouth Galleries)

Jennifer Pepper

Organized by Cazenovia College Art Gallery

"Our final show of Fall 2006 semester, "RE:figure: gods + monsters," is a compelling show of seven national artists who make use of the human figure as subject," said Gallery Director Jennifer Pepper. "The theme of this highly charged visual show is the way in which each artist approaches the subject, illustrating the myriad interpretations and perceptions of the human condition identified as social creature, as hunter, as mother, as lover, as son, street warrior, cultural architect, mythological messenger, to name only a few. Some artists adhere strongly to painting traditions, while others make use of 3-D media that straddle walls and sit on top of intimate shelving. This is a show not to be missed." by Cazenovia College. http://www.cazenovia.edu/default.aspx?tabid=782

painting

http://www1.umassd.edu/cvpa/universityartgallery/past/2007/godsmonsters.cfm

07steven_labadessa_02

photographs

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UMass Dartmouth Art Galleries

Labadessa , Steven

American

http://stevenlabadessa.com/home.html

Composite (Kathleen 2)

painting

2003

Artist Statement: "Painting and drawing serve as a physically enacted ritual of praise and contemplation, aspiring towards a devout pursuit of a severe beauty. It is an aesthetic of imperfection alluding to the underlying nature of matter and memory: everything is subject to age, wear & decay. Yet, obstinately, the invisible is made visible, suspended in the mythical timelessness of the medium – still, but never silent; wherein, this uncertain truth is knowingly implied to antagonize the loneliness of our lives. A more grounded discussion of my work begins with considering its "operatic" tone. I exact a preference for hyperbole and "psychological" texture in my work. It comes, as most art forms, from reflections on my life (episodes, experiences, etc.). And, it is imagery that I explore specific to painting within the confines of self-portraiture that typically runs counter to modern western notions of beauty. I re-render the flesh of friends and relations (lasting & temporary) serving as a surrogate for me by "compositing" my imagery from a variety of observed, imaginary and digital sources. In so doing, I seek to continue to resolve/meld both "low" and "high" influences in my work that might be crudely seen as a "Pop-Surrealistic" vernacular, but far richer conceptually leaning more to the Baroque and Romantics with a conscious restraint airing on subtlety to yield tension. Among the influences that orbit my visual mind are Japanese popular/fringe culture from Butoh to anime stemming from my early fandom of Toho films (notably, featuring Godzilla) to an early introduction to anime via UHF PBS broadcasting subtitled anime in the early 70s/80s airing from New Jersey, whilst I wistfully watched on my parent's bed (their TV was the only one to clearly received the signal, so that I could watch "Captain Harlock" every Sunday night), western comic book art (particularly the "Silver Age" of Marvel Comics), as well as Northern Renaissance Art (for example; Jan Van Eyck, Hans Memling). "

http://stevenlabadessa.com/home.html

2013/02/02

ajc