On view: March 29th-April 6th, 2023
Reception: Wednesday, March 29th, 4:30-5:30pm
Natalie Hall is pursuing a BS in psychology and a BA in studio art. Her current body of work explores appropriation in art and its growing relevance in a media-saturated world. She is primarily focused on exploring when one work of art becomes something new, and what processes must occur to achieve this shift.
Artist Statement:
This body of work is based off of Images from magazines and various photographer’s archives. The often hyper-public displays of individuals intended to catch a person’s eye initially appealed to me, and this body of work is reflective of my investigation of this niche. I was curious to explore when a piece of media stops being one thing and assumes the identity of something new. Translating subjects through paint and meshing them with bold and ambiguous text grants me a unique opportunity for creativity; the text in conjunction with the image begins the journey of making the two sources my own.
Hometown?
Savannah, GA
Major/Minor?
Double major in Psychology and Studio Art
What is your primary medium?
Large scale oil paintings
What does the title of your show mean?
“While you were” was the first phrase I used in a painting. It came from a pass I found in a book- “while you were… out, pretending to be out, sleeping, etc… _____ phoned/stopped by/wrote/shouted across the hall, and he/she/they/it would like… a call back/left the message below” etc. I thought it was oddly pithy, and it began my journey of incorporating short, blunt phrasing into my works.
Here’s a picture of the sheet… I feel like I explained it poorly!
How did you start with your project? What are your inspirations?
My body of work for this show really came to be because of my past experience in painting classes at Davidson. I’ve worked with a lot of different mediums throughout my life, but painting always felt the most substantial, and the most satisfying when i’d completed something I liked. I faced a lot of creative blocks and spent a lot of time thumbing through old editions of ArtForum. From there I essentially went down a rabbit hole of using publicized images as my reference photos. I felt too much pressure using my own- because I felt they lacked a substantial deeper meaning everyone seeks in art. Using someone else’s pictures relieved this anxiety- and from there, I spent my time trying to combine someone else’s photos with someone else’s words and make something feel like my own.
What do you feel is the most significant piece in the exhibition and why? What is your favorite piece and why?
I think my first work I created this year, Bizarre Life, feels the most significant to me. It feels emblematic of the experience, and was the catalyst for all the works that followed.
How will art and the process of art making continue to play a role in your life after graduation?
I’m not sure of my post graduation plans yet, so its hard to say. However, art has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, so i’m sure it’ll weave its way in somewhere.
