Christopher Collett
I make art because I find it therapeutic and the practice enriches my life. I think art should influence a way of being in the world that moves us toward psychological wholeness. I make abstract art because I think its introversion invites the viewer to simply take pleasure (like we do when we watch a sunset) and/or to find their own meaning within the feelings invoked by the experience of viewing.
One will notice motifs suggestive of topographic maps, geometric shapes and pixelation. I think knowledge of oneself and the world is akin to mapping.The reality to be mapped comes from within and outside of ourselves. Inside and outside are entwined, they influence and express each other in a fluid process. The 'mapping' in my work is symbolic of constant revision and evolutions of knowledge and identify. Identity is both given and created. I experience having to constantly interface with the internet at work and at home as an intrusion upon my boundaries. I view the 'pixelation' in my work as symbolic of distraction, obfuscation and loss.
To be a painter in this hyper-connected media saturated society is to be something of a Luddite. I think my work represents a form of escapism. And I am reminded of a quote by Ursula K. Le Guin, “The direction of escape is toward freedom. So what is 'escapism' an accusation of?â€
My artistic practice prioritizes process over making of a finished piece. This helps me accept impermanence. When I make art, I usually have only a vague idea about which direction to take it. The most satisfying time spent working in my studio is when it feels like play and I can drop into a state of flow. Because my process lacks clear direction and purpose - it often feels like I am lost. I accept a measure of disappointment when nothing significant is realized through my efforts.
However, I also find this process pleasurable because it renders surprises. Sometimes it feels as though a work will come together on its own accord and I find myself asking; where did that come from?. Often a work is finished when process is exhausted, or when a friend or loved one tells me it looks finished.
Address: 6011 N Gay Ave Portland OR 97217
Collage|Oil|Painting
Community: N Portland
Studio Number: 2
Email: collett_c@yahoo.com
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