Discovering the Still Point

Print installation on view April of 2012 at University Galleries of Illinois State University in Normal, IL, in support of the Master’s Degree in printmaking.

University Galleries of Illinois State University thesis exhibition, 2012

Discovering the Still Point

I understand my surroundings through various grounding points in the landscape. I arrive at grounding points through moments of recognition and repetition that provide a discovery of where I am located in the world. In my prints, I look to highlight the instances of discovery that are calming and comforting, allowing myself to get lost in the subtleties of the print and the process. Losing oneself through exploration and identifying with what is outside of us is a transforming experience. It allows us to identify with what is living or not, concluding that we are all part of the same existence. Locating the point or line created by intersections or symmetries relates to the act of grounding myself, which I refer to as discovering the still point.

Through printing, I am constantly discovering nuances that occur beyond my control. I print with the hope for irregularities that turn into merging sites of meaning. Layering mechanical marks, textured shapes, and various recordings creates connections between seemingly disparate information. The unity of opposites, or binaries, dissolves differences to create a larger system of connections than what is perceived.

The swing and the bench exemplify two aspects of experiencing the still point. Swinging uses motion around a still pivoting point outside of myself, where as the bench provides a resting place within me to view the performance of my surroundings. Both of these aspects play a key role in giving my viewers the opportunity to sit in front of my work or allude to concept of swinging to provide a still point to connect with what exists in front of them.