SABRA BOOTH
MIXED MEDIA / DRAWING
ARTIST STATEMENT
"Art making is my sieve for experiencing the world. Consequently, place often affects my direction. While on a 2007 Fulbright residency In Finland, I studied the rich heritage of Scandinavian design. This research led to further simplified forms. Natural objects are magnified and cropped until they become otherworldly. Like a 19th century naturalist, I often sketch and paint flora and fauna on site. Design considerations are evident through the implementation of graphic line, negative space, actual texture, and limited color. More recent trips to Japan have also had an important impact on my work. "For this show, April Dressed in All Its Trim, I decided to create a light box. The imagery offers an interpretation of a Greek myth, explaining the origin of the seasons through the relationship of a goddess and her daughter. The story is one that is full of love and devotion, but also great pain. I built this art piece, Persephone’s Price, as the current pandemic loomed. It’s a prescient image, capturing life’s joy and ephemerality. Plants, also have been recurring focal points in my studio practice. Pomegranates figure prominently in this piece. The format evokes techniques of silhouette cutouts commonly used for children’s books during the early 20th century Golden Age of Illustration. I have frequently made light works incorporated with printmaking and drawing in other studio works, as well. Fireflies and Jack-O-Lanterns were a source of wonder in my childhood. I hope to capture some of that same beauty with the juxtaposition of saturated color and black silhouettes. Overall, a cast of shady plants, mutant crustaceans, and amorous microbes populate my art. These characters, like myself, are skipping or stumbling through a dystopic world." — Sabra Booth |
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