Is it true?
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Artist Statement
This series of paintings combats the stereotypes that are associated with a subculture located in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains, specifically the only state completely engulfed within said mountains, West Virginia. Residents from this location are commonly faced with the actions and the thoughts of the past that were brought on by some misfortunate circumstances that took place during the coal revolution. Though these events accrued many years they live on through the stereotypes that continue today. The effect that the stereotypes and thoughts have had on the Appalachian people is not one that has proven the beliefs untrue, but instead has propelled them by promoting a lack of ethnocentrism. Thus the continuation of such thoughts can also be blamed on the people of the culture for not sharing and promoting truths of the mountaineers. Instead of displaying the culture for the world to see the beauty within it the way of life has been hidden within the hills by those who fear the past. This body of work is to combat the lack of action to educate those who believe in the stereotypes that continue to spread. This way of life is not best portrayed by images, but instead by experiences.
The works within this series create an experience for the viewer to see the images of the true Appalachian culture, and also create an experience where one can step out of the culture they are associated with and step into the culture of the artist. Each image is created based on a fundamental aspect of the culture. The purpose is to show the true raw reality of the Appalachian people, and thus diminishing the extremity of the stereotypes. The culture is not always beautiful and exciting, just as some of the concepts behind the works are not always beautiful and exciting.
Each image while different in content contains a sense of unity due to the size, medium, style, and color use. The artist views color usage as an extremely important aspect of the works. The paintings were created with a set triad of colors that were used to make many tints, values, and hues. The use of color theory was drawn upon for every color that was laid. When the viewer takes a closer look one will find that the primary colors used to create the color palate are located in areas not naturally found, such as prismatic red in the leaves of the trees or prismatic blue in the bark of the tree. This use of color not only creates an interesting visual work, but also is used to symbolize all of the hidden aspect that is located within the culture. When one looks at a culture they take a glace and feel that they know all there is to know, but just as these paintings have unexpected bursts of prismatic color the culture has unexpected bursts of beauty that can only be seen upon further investigation. The culture and ways of life in these mountains are beautiful, and the intent of this show is for those aspects to be seen.
The works within this series create an experience for the viewer to see the images of the true Appalachian culture, and also create an experience where one can step out of the culture they are associated with and step into the culture of the artist. Each image is created based on a fundamental aspect of the culture. The purpose is to show the true raw reality of the Appalachian people, and thus diminishing the extremity of the stereotypes. The culture is not always beautiful and exciting, just as some of the concepts behind the works are not always beautiful and exciting.
Each image while different in content contains a sense of unity due to the size, medium, style, and color use. The artist views color usage as an extremely important aspect of the works. The paintings were created with a set triad of colors that were used to make many tints, values, and hues. The use of color theory was drawn upon for every color that was laid. When the viewer takes a closer look one will find that the primary colors used to create the color palate are located in areas not naturally found, such as prismatic red in the leaves of the trees or prismatic blue in the bark of the tree. This use of color not only creates an interesting visual work, but also is used to symbolize all of the hidden aspect that is located within the culture. When one looks at a culture they take a glace and feel that they know all there is to know, but just as these paintings have unexpected bursts of prismatic color the culture has unexpected bursts of beauty that can only be seen upon further investigation. The culture and ways of life in these mountains are beautiful, and the intent of this show is for those aspects to be seen.
