Kathryn
M. Bennett – Artist Statement
I
am an artist living in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon,
U.S.A. I have always loved art (I took every class I could in high
school). But I did not become a serious artist until 2005 when the
creativity began to 'flow.' I graduated in 2013 from Western Oregon
University with degrees in both Art and Anthropology and have been
searching for ways to combine the two in my artwork. With my art, I
desire to communicate my ideas, thoughts, and feelings about issues
faced by societies and cultures such as self-image, fertility, and
mortality.
My
artwork has been in gallery exhibits and fairs. See my resume for a
complete list. Some of my art on this site is available for purchase either as
originals or professional prints. See the links list on
menu and feel free to contact me for more information.
Special
projects:
Dark
Scans – scanner art
I
have created a series of digital images using a flatbed scanner. This
achieves an ethereal effect that is much more provocative than could
be reached with plain photography. I control the mood of my images by
manipulating the placement and lighting of the objects. The
playthings of my own youth were dusted off and used to revisit both
the experiences and the emotions that we all sometimes face as we
come of age. I also use some of of my digital scans as drawing,
etching, and painting designs. I am currently discussing a possible
exhibit of my images with the gallery at Western Oregon University.
Egg
Project – mixed media
I
have discovered a love of mixed media. I am especially interested in
using materials that are out of context. In school, I made a
full-size corset of old metal screen, wire, and nails to illustrate
the concept of relationships and pain. It (and my exposure to
contemporary art while working at Project Space over the summer) has
inspired me to work on plans for an “Egg Project.” I create eggs
with materials that are unusual, such as hardware nails. In this
project I want to address the subject of fertility: how it is
perceived and dealt with and how it affects women (and men) around
the globe.
Meditation
Boxes – mixed media
One
of my first mixed media projects was to make a personalized art box
from found materials. I used an old doll case and transformed it into
a 'Meditation Box.' It has drawers, doors, and compartments that hold
a vintage bottle, communion cups, and items that symbolize what life
(and death) means to me. It is now a vital part of my life and I was
inspired to make others. Some are portable boxes for travelling while
others are small open units that stand on a shelf or hang on a wall.
Each is an interactive personal and symbolic statement.
Home-made materials
I
am interested in learning how art materials were obtained before
industrialism. I have been experimenting and learning to make my own
art supplies. One of my favourite current projects is creating
pigments from plant and earth materials. So far, I have made dyes
from walnut husks, oak galls, and field dirt and I am experimenting
with screen printing, paints, and fibre arts. It gives me a great
appreciation for how early humans created their masterpieces.