Art and Money

Much discussion has been generated about the status of art in the current economy. Ripples caused by the burst of the contemporary art bubble have pervaded the pages of art magazines and newspapers for the past three years - and yet seldom do hear about the status of practicing artists, specifically those outside the nepotistic inner circles of the NY/LA/Miami gallery scene.

Earlier this week Time Out’s senior art critic Howard Halle said over Facebook that “there’s a lot young artists out there who were promised superstar careers in art school, and now, thanks to the shitty economy, they’ve got bubkis.”

With less art selling, opportunities for young artists are becoming fewer and farther between. As galleries become more conservative in the wake of a broken economy, can young artists be expected to sustain any progressive or radical energy, or does the selectivity produce a homogenized litany of intellectually congruous Post-Minimalist bourgeois ornamentation?

Or perhaps the opposite - Damien Hirst at one point suggested that less money circulating the art market encourages art for art's sake rather than art for money's sake. While it's difficult to take Hirst's statement seriously given his billionaire status, there might be a grain of truth to it, that traditionally artists have been motivated more by a love for the creation of artwork rather than the creation of capital. Nevertheless, when oil painters can't afford oil paint, where do artists turn to support their labor of love?

A few opportunities remain. For the past three years MYARTSPACE.COM has awarded $16,000 in cash scholarships to six artists currently matriculated in either an undergraduate or graduated university degree program for visual art. The scholarship, which is open to students worldwide and juried by first-class curators, is based on artistic merit rather than art-scene connections; on originality and clarity rather than decorous marketability. Unlike most competitions for young artists, there is no entry fee.

MYARTSACE.COM provides free visibility and networking opportunities to artists outside of a traditional gallery context. At the same time, it allows millions of art appreciators every day to access unique artworks by over 100,000 artists from around the world. While an economy in decay and a conservative and insular art-market can have a stifling affects on young artists, MYARTSPACE.COM provides opportunities and encouragement not found elsewhere on today's scene.

Links:

MYARTSPACE.COM 2009 Scholarship Winners

MYARTSPACE.COM 2008 Scholarship Winners

Has Money Ruined Art?: NY Times

How Artists Make Money: NPR

Premium update, London Calling update, 2009 art scholarships update

Premium Update:

The Enhanced Defintion Gallery is a new capability for myartspace premium subscribers. It allows them to create a very vivid, bold, and spacious gallery with all the power of the traditional myartspace gallery. To learn more visit, www.myartspace.com/blog/2009/05/enhanced-definition-gallery.html

London Calling Update:

There are only a few days left to submit art to the myartspace.com London Calling competition. The juror panel includes Vanessa DesClaux (Tate Modern), Tom Morton (Hayward Gallery, Frieze Magazine), and Francesco Manacorda (Barbican Gallery). Winners will have an exhibit at Scream London, a cutting-edge gallery operated by Tyrone Wood (son of Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones). Notable guests and patrons have included Tracey Emin, Claire Danes, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Beverly Knight, Meg Mathews, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones.

For more information visit, www.myartspace.com/londoncalling

For a special coupon visit, www.myartspace.com/londoncalling/coupon

For more updates, artist interviews, and art news visit, www.myartspace.com/blog
2009 myartspace.com art scholarship program:

MYARTSPACE is giving away $16,000 cash Scholarships for students to continue their education in an approved MFA, BFA or higher level degree program for the arts. The 2009 scholarship amount of $16,000 will be divided equally for an undergraduate and graduate competition. The competition is free to enter for college level art students worldwide. For more information visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships

2nd Annual myartspace.com Art Scholarship Competition

www.myartspace.com/scholarships

Myartspace, the premiere online venue for contemporary art, has launched the 2nd annual art scholarship competition, with $16,000 in CASH prize awards. This merit-based scholarship is intended for students who have a passion for art and demonstrate that passion in their work. Students using all mediums of visual art, including photography, digital media, and sculpture, are encouraged to apply. The program is intended to recognize and award young artists who exhibit exceptional talent.

Myartspace will provide three scholarship prizes for undergraduate students and three scholarship prizes for graduate students. First place winners in each category are awarded a $5000 cash scholarship. Second and Third place winners receive $2000 and $1000 cash awards, respectively. To be considered for a Myartspace scholarship, applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students in an art degree program.
Last year, scholarship applicants hailed from over 1,200 schools worldwide. For more information visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships.

View the undergraduate and graduate winners of the 1st annual myartspace.com art scholarship competition below:


Lucy May: 2008 myartspace.com graduate art scholarship first place winner:

“Entering the competition was an excellent way for me to build a high quality gallery of my work online, since I don't yet have my own website. I was aware that the site is vast and diverse, and that there would be many applications for the Scholarship. I am honored that my work was selected and delighted that so many more people will be able to view my work as a result of this competition. I'm also excited about the possibilities that this will open up for me.” -- Lucy May


Justin Lowman: 2008 myartspace.com graduate art scholarship second place winner

“I don't think one ever imagines winning these things. Of course, I knew I couldn't win unless I tried. I enjoyed putting the gallery together. It gave me chance to take inventory on recent work. My placement at the top has rendered me speechless. Of course, there is a smile.” -- Justin Lowman


Jessica Wohl: 2008 myartspace.com graduate art scholarship third place winner

“As I'm sure all applicants were, I was hopeful about the competition, though I figured it was pretty competitive. The word 'scholarship' always makes students excited. My reaction to winning was, of course, surprised and excited! I am really honored. It gives me validation and makes me feel like I'm going down the right path.” -- Jessica Wohl


Sara Sisun: 2008 myartspace.com undergraduate art scholarship first place winner

“I was just checking out the myartspace site and saw the advertisement for the competition; I had my portfolio documented and available so I figured it would be easy to fill out one more application. I was completely shocked to hear that I had won; I thought the winners had already been announced. I’m nervous to hear back from graduate programs, so receiving such encouragement is really great.” -- Sara Sisun


Jessica Brown: 2008 myartspace.com undergraduate art scholarship second place winner

“This was a great opportunity for someone living in a pretty secluded place, such as Alaska, to get my art out there. I am a little shocked that I won a place in the competition because I know how many talented artists entered. Just by participating I feel more connected to the outside, let alone winning!” -- Jessica Brown


Zach Stein: 2008 myartspace.com undergraduate art scholarship third place winner

“I don’t see how an art student can pass up an opportunity like this. You don’t have to pay to join Myartspace. You don’t have to pay to join the competition. You don’t have to get your work to a location. You just take a picture and put it online. It’s a bit of a no-brainer.” -- Zach Stein

Myartspace is one of the fastest growing and diverse communities on the internet. Its members include more than 50,000 artists, collectors, galleries and other art world professionals from across the globe, and it currently hosts the work of nearly 30,000 artists. Membership is free and artists can host their own art galleries with unlimited storage capacity.

Catherine McCormack-Skiba founded the company in 2006. An artist herself, she notes “The Arts are an essential part of our society, and CatMacArt Corporation is proud to once again sponsor a meaningful scholarship program for young artists in undergraduate and graduate studies. A large part of the mission of the community is to provide opportunities for emerging and established artists to develop their careers . Given our record participation levels last year, we are hopeful that we can match the depth and breadth of the art submitted last year. It is a tough benchmark for us.”

For more information visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships

Links of Interest:

Myartspace launches 2009 cash scholarship competition for graduate and undergraduate students
www.myartspace.com/blog/2009/04/myartspace-launches-2009-cash.html

Myartspace launches major Art Scholarship program for both graduate and undergraduate students
www.myartspace.com/blog/2008/07/myartspace-launches-major-art.html

myartspace announces Winners of 2008 Undergraduate Scholarship Competition‏
www.myartspace.com/blog/2009/01/myartspace-announces-winners-of-2008.html

The 2008 undergraduate and graduate winners
www.myartspace.com/scholarships/winners

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

myartspace.com

www.myartspace.com

myartspace on Twitter

www.twitter.com/myartspace

Myartspace Blog on Twitter

www.twitter.com/myartspace_blog

Myartspace launches 2009 cash scholarship competition for graduate and undergraduate students

Myartspace.com, the premier online venue for contemporary art, is offering significant cash scholarship awards to talented art students around the world.

Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) April 1 2009 -- Myartspace, the premiere online venue for contemporary art, is launching their 2nd annual art scholarship competition, with $16,000 in CASH prize awards. This merit-based scholarship is intended for students who have a passion for art and demonstrate that passion in their work. Students using all mediums of visual art, including photography, digital media, and sculpture, are encouraged to apply. The program is intended to recognize and award young artists who exhibit exceptional talent.

Myartspace will provide three scholarship prizes for undergraduate students and three scholarship prizes for graduate students. First place winners in each category are awarded a $5000 cash scholarship. Second and Third place winners receive $2000 and $1000 cash awards, respectively. To be considered for a Myartspace scholarship, applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students in an art degree program.

Artists interested in signing up for consideration for a Myartspace scholarship can find out more details by visiting the Myartspace scholarship page. The application process is easy and straightforward. Artists simply register for a FREE membership at Myartspace, where they can upload unlimited images, videos, and music. Members can then enter the free scholarship competition by submitting their online art gallery following the simple instructions listed on the scholarship page. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS DECEMBER 16, 2009. Early registrants (students registering before June 15, 2009) will be granted a 3-month free trial subscription to Premium Services, normally a $75/year package.

Last year, scholarship applicants hailed from over 1,200 schools worldwide. Winners included Sara Susin (Stanford University), Jessica Brown (University of Alaska), and Zach Stein (University of Kentucky). Visit the Myartspace blog to see last year’s winning artist highlights, as well as the top 50 finalists.

Myartspace is one of the fastest growing and diverse communities on the internet. Its members include more than 50,000 artists, collectors, galleries and other art world professionals from across the globe, and it currently hosts the work of nearly 30,000 artists. Membership is free and artists can host their own art galleries with unlimited storage capacity.

Catherine McCormack-Skiba founded the company in 2006. An artist herself, she notes “The Arts are an essential part of our society, and CatMacArt Corporation is proud to once again sponsor a meaningful scholarship program for young artists in undergraduate and graduate studies. A large part of the mission of the community is to provide opportunities for emerging and established artists to develop their careers . Given our record participation levels last year, we are hopeful that we can match the depth and breadth of the art submitted last year. It is a tough benchmark for us.”

The scholarship program is one of several opportunities Myartspace provides for artists. In the Miami Basel competition, winning artists have their work represented at the Bridge Art Fair in Miami, FL. The competition is juried by a world class panel, with curators from The Whitney, SF MOMA, and San Jose Museum of Fine Art. The London Calling competition offers artists an amazing opportunity to show their work at Scream London Gallery, a globally renowned art establishment.

For more opportunities, please visit us at www.myartspace.com or email info@catmacart.com for further competition details. Myartspace is created and run by CatMacArt Corporation, www.catmacart.com

About MYARTSPACE:

myartspace, the premier online venue for contemporary art, is one of the fastest growing and diverse communities on the internet. Its members include more than 50,000 artists, collectors, galleries and other art world professionals from across the globe, and it currently hosts the work of nearly 30,000 artists. Membership is free and artist can upload an unlimited amount of work including images, music and video. Myartspace is created and run by CatMacArt Corporation. CatMacArt Corporation is also the developer of The New York Art Exchange (www.nyaxe.com). For additional information, see www.catmacart.com.

Website: www.myartspace.com
Scholarship: www.myartspace.com/scholarships
Blog: www.myartspace.com/blog
info: info AT catmacart.com

Art Space Talk: Jessica Wohl

Jessica Wohl, has won third place in the 2008 Graduate Scholarship Competition provided by myartspace.com. Jessica will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship from myartspace. The myartspace Art Scholarship program began in July 2008 and entries were due by December 15, 2008. $16,000 of cash scholarships are awarded to the top three winners in the undergraduate category and the graduate category. Entry to the competition is free as is membership to myartspace.

Jessica is currently working on her Masters of Fine Arts at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia in Drawing and Painting. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Art History at the Kansas City Art Institute. In Jessica's words "I’m interested in the concept of the family. What is a family, and by what is it defined? A family constitutes a group of multiples with a shared common bond, and I investigate the nature of, and the power of that bond. I’m interested in exploring the illusion of a family: how it portrays itself to the world, how they hold themselves together, and what might happen they let themselves fall apart.

Collecting family photographs, stories, memories and imagery connects my personal experience to a larger history. I also collect culturally derived patterns and ornament, most specifically, lace, as it references my Russian ancestors. Collecting, accumulating and arranging are all ways in which one manipulates their environment to achieve perfection, and it is in the obsessive nature of my work in which I emulate the quest for perfection that many families undertake and display."

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder of myartspace and CEO noted, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

Brian Sherwin: Jessica, you are one of three winners of the graduate art scholarship competition provided by the artist social network myartspace.com. As you know the scholarship is intended for students who exhibit exceptional artistic excellence in their chosen medium and is to be used in order to further education in art. Can you describe how you felt entering the competition and your reaction to finding out that you had won?

Jessica Wohl: As I'm sure all applicants were, I was hopeful about the competition, though I figured it was pretty competitive. The word 'scholarship' always makes students excited. My reaction to winning was, of course, surprised and excited! I am really honored. It gives me validation and makes me feel like I'm going down the right path.

BS: Can you tell us about your academic background? Where have you studied? Did you have any influential instructors?

JW: I graduated with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2001 with majors in illustration and art history. After school, I decided Illustration wasn't for me, and that I wanted to paint. My illustration background gave me painting skills, but I felt unfulfilled when it came to thinking conceptually about my work. Since I didn't have anyone to dialogue with when it came to more conceptual ideas, I knew I had to pursue graduate studies.

I'm currently in my second year of the MFA program at the Lamar Dodd School of Art in the Drawing and Painting Department at the University of Georgia. My instructors here at UGA have helped me tremendously in terms of making my work become more visually and conceptually engaging.


BS: You have stated that you are interested in the concept of the family. Can you go into further detail about that aspect of your art?

JW: I am fascinated by the idea of the family as a group of people who are bound together by various connections. Typically when families are portrayed visually, in photographs or even in the public, there is a persona or visual mask that is put on to conceal the deeper, more troubling truths that define who they are.

BS: Tell us more about the thoughts behind your work…

JW: I am very interested in the multiple, as copies always refer to an absent original. In this absence we find loss, trauma, and death, yet in the obsessive multiple, we find security and stability in the predictable nature of the visuals we distribute, consume and ultimately believe. For these paintings, the 'duplicate' or portrait of the subject (residents I volunteered with in a retirement community/nursing home) acts as a stand in for the individual.

In this case, these individuals were facing the end of their lives, and therefore the paintings foreshadow their impending absence, and the loss and trauma surrounding it. To the best of my knowledge, 5 of the 14 people I painted are no longer alive, and I wouldn't be surprised if that number has grown.

BS: What about other influences? Are you influenced by any specific artists?

JW: I am influenced greatly by photography, especially Sears family portraits, as they are the perfect example of this "posing" persona we put on and distribute, in multiple, concealing truths and presenting and distributing how happy we seem to be. The concept of the uncanny, twins, and things that occur in duplicate also profoundly impact my current work. I am also interested greatly in the abject, loss, trauma and memory. The artists I am most influenced by deal with these concepts: Gregor Schneider, Mona Hatoum, Diane Arbus, Gillian Wearing, Christian Boltanski, and Rachael Whiteread.

BS: How do you utilize symbolism within your work? For example, do colors have specific meanings to you? Discuss this aspect of your art…

JW: Most of the time symbolism occurs in the nature of the process I use. For example, the backgrounds of these works are alluring and colorful, yet they are dripping, decaying and eroding, as a metaphor for the subjects who's bodies are nearing death and decomposition. In my current collage work (soon to be posted!) I'm doing a lot of cutting and organizing, a process that implies trauma and healing.

BS: Can you discuss the art that you decided to enter into the competition. In your opinion, why do those specific works reflect your growth as an artist?

JW: This body of work started because I was experiencing a lot of guilt surrounding my grandfather's death, and I felt I wanted to capture and draw attention to people who were in a situation where they were viewed as abject. Given my training as an illustrator, this was really the first body of work where I explored a deeper concept and presented the work in a professional gallery setting. I finally had something to say, rather than illustrating someone else's ideas. Though it still looks a bit illustrative in my opinion, this body of work was the beginning of the road that I'm currently still exploring in my graduate studies.

BS: In your opinion, how is the internet changing the landscape of the art world, so to speak. Obviously artists today have more opportunities than they had before the advent of the World Wide Web. What your thoughts on this?

JW: The best thing about the web, in my opinion, is the access it provides for sharing information. My peers and I often frequent websites such as dailyserving.com, where we can keep a finger on the pulse of what occurs daily in the contemporary art world. In terms of sharing information, I can't think of a better tool to bring art to the masses. My only hesitation would be that I hope the web never becomes a full-on surrogate for people to view art; I still think visiting a museum or gallery in person is the best way to view art, and always will be.


BS: What are your future plans as far as your art is concerned?
JW: I am still exploring ways of investigating the family, and probably will continue to do this for some time, however I am becoming increasingly more interested in ideas of the home, the environment that houses all the dysfunction. I have some ideas for sculptures and installations that I am looking forward to realizing.

BS: Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your art?

JW: Visually, my work differs greatly from one body to the next. I think this is a product of growing up where my daily routine and environment changed multiple times a week. Even in this chaos I found some kind of stability, so I suppose my work really is an extension of my upbringing. I hope viewers can realize that beyond these visual differences the concepts underlying the work are actually quite the same.

You can learn more about Jessica Wohl by visiting her website-- www.jessicawohl.com. Jessica is currently a member of the myartspace.com community-- www.myartspace.com/jessicawohl.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

myartspace

www.myartspace.com

New York Art Exchange

www.nyaxe.com

Art Space Talk: Justin Lowman

Justin Lowman, has won second place in the 2008 Graduate Scholarship Competition provided by myartspace.com. Justin will receive a $2,000 cash scholarship from myartspace. The myartspace Art Scholarship program began in July 2008 and entries were due by December 15, 2008. $16,000 of cash scholarships are awarded to the top three winners in the undergraduate category and the graduate category. Entry to the competition is free as is membership to myartspace.

Justin Lowman earned a BA in Art History and Classic Humanities from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He is currently concluding his MFA Candidate at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Justin describe in his own words his works "I want to reinvigorate various kinds of contexts both public and private to produce renewed awareness of being. With a change in focus or through a unique set of materials, one can see the familiar in new ways in order to pause and reflect on a moment, to capture a fleeting glimpse or perhaps even to smile and gain a sense of wonder.

Producing this kind of situation is important to me because so much of our lives are bombarded with speed and information that challenges our ability to process our lives. As the quality of contemporary life feels increasingly rapid, we observe that time still measures the same as it ever has. Why then do situations sometimes feel painstakingly slow while others exceptionally fast? Taking time to appreciate the small things in moments of contemplation affords the viewer an opportunity to digest and restore."

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder of myartspace and CEO noted, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

Brian Sherwin: Justin, you are one of three winners of the graduate art scholarship competition provided by the artist social network myartspace.com. As you know the scholarship is intended for students who exhibit exceptional artistic excellence in their chosen medium and is to be used in order to further education in art. Can you describe how you felt entering the competition and your reaction to finding out that you had won?

Justin Lowman: I don't think one ever imagines winning these things. Of course, I knew I couldn't win unless I tried. I enjoyed putting the gallery together. It gave me chance to take inventory on recent work. My placement at the top has rendered me speechless. Of course, there is a smile.
BS: Justin, you are currently attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. You are seeking an MFA in Studio Art. Can you discuss your academic background? For example, have you had any influential instructors?

JL: I am truly grateful to be at Art Center with so many amazing people both students and staff. I feel I am too close to the experience to know what the influences are. While it would be premature to assess Art Center, there have certainly been instructors along the way who have been instrumental to my growth.

My high school teachers--Richard Brown and Katherine Belling--were particularly supportive in planting certain seeds. At that time, it all seemed so new. I spent my undergrad years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison finding my way back to art through first engineering, then art history. It really wasn't until moving to Los Angeles that I was able to begin seeing the possibilities as an artist. Through working with both Lisa Adams and Lia Halloran at UCLA Extension, ideas began to coalesce into something that made art seem attainable for me again.

BS: It appears that you adhere to a specific philosophy concerning life and nature. You have stated the following, “The way nature and light changes endlessly, the way sounds and volumes change continuously, the way air shifts and feels in certain moments, and even the way light influences sensation beyond the visual, all contribute to an entire sense of being that we often readily adapt to and subsequently begin to ignore.” Can you discuss how that concern is reflected within the context of your art?

JL: I look to relations between light, trees and water to begin to understand something of surface and depth. Something so seemingly simple and familiar becomes more complicated the longer and more carefully I observe said phenomena. I think reflection is a good word to use because it both speaks to these relations but it also speaks to memory and deeper senses of being. Like watching the sun set over water light changes both reflectively and atmospherically.

I marvel how that seemingly simple viewing experience continues to mesmerize me. I want the work to deliver that kind of experience where movement shifts subtly with a slight tug at the end as when the sun disappears beyond the horizon. To atttempt to fix one of those fleeting moments provides a kind of pleasure in the present for me.

Much of the work relies on the combination of both fixed and shifting perspectives depending on where the viewer is in relation to the work and whether or not the work itself actually moves. I'm particularly interested in those kind of subtle oscillations. There's such a poetic sense that I feel even words can't begin to describe it.

BS: Tell us more about the thoughts behind your work… the specific themes you explore and the symbolism you embrace…

JL: Like I mentioned previously, the notion of the moment can be both pleasurable and sublime. While the speed of contemporary life appears increasingly rapid, it still measures the same as it ever has. What can this say about how we experience our lives now? Sometimes it feels painstakingly slow, at other times amazingly fast, but it's only in hindsight that we can begin to know meaning.

I find myself thinking a lot about speed in relation to technology where digital media delivers information at the speed of light and how that changes the way we may see ourselves and what kind of new responsibilities we may have given the wealth of information that grows exponentially everyday. I believe there can be no substitute for careful observation and thought. If I can arrest the viewer into a space of contemplation, my hope is that it may provide an opportunity to process and restore.

BS: What about other influences?

JL: I am also inspired by dialogue with my wife Jennifer and our two boys (ages 4 and almost 6). In addition to what the family experience brings in terms of relations in time, I am also inspired by art in many forms including the written and the performed both silent and musical. It is eclectic to be sure.

BS: How do you utilize symbolism within your work? For example, do colors have specific meanings to you? Discuss this aspect of your art…

JL: Colors are very important to me. As a product of matter and light, I am very much invested in questions about location of color. Black and white intensify contrasts to reveal basic structures of things. Reflective surfaces reveal infinite colors based on site conditions and viewers in relation to the work. Here is where the viewer may be able to "get inside" the work a bit.

Most recently my palette has been an investigation into color as it is both perceived through depths of water (black into violets into blues into greens into whites) as well as more digitally oriented color such as magenta and cyan and how those color schemes intermingle to develop a dialogue between the fluidic and the graphic. I want to question the space of the actual and the virtual and where I find myself on that continuum.

BS: Can you discuss the art that you decided to enter into the competition. In your opinion, why do those specific works reflect your growth as an artist?

JL:The work I have chosen is my most recent work. It follows a thread that seeks to draw the viewer further and further into an actual space rather than being held with the mere illusion of virtual space such as that found in my more conventional paintings for example. It's really difficult to present the work photographically because it really needs to be seen firsthand. I want the viewer to be able to interact with it and be in the presence of a moment.

BS: In your opinion, how is the internet changing the landscape of the art world, so to speak. Obviously artists today have more opportunities than they had before the advent of the World Wide Web. What your thoughts on this?

JL: While the value of shared information and networking possibilities is invaluable with internet communities and I am grateful for the ones in which I participate, I am concerned that images of art work posted on the internet are seen as substitutions for an actual viewing experience in a real brick and mortar.

While certain media choices are ideal for web exchange (and there really are some people doing incredible work in the virtual space of the internet), there is still so much that must be seen in the flesh. Ultimately, I want to embrace new technologies and how we can continue to expand our understanding of our being through them while also carefully attending to the ethical issues that emerge with them.

BS: What are your future plans as far as your art is concerned?
JL: Right now I am working to refine aspects of what I have show you while expanding through more video-oriented installations.

BS: Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your art?

JL: I do hope that I can continue to work on ideas that continue to engage contemporary questions about how we perceive time and space, how and where we find ourselves on that continuum in our daily lives, and how we can better see the way we are interconnected and mutually important one to another--that we are one part in many layers of the whole just as moments of time accumulate into collected experience.Thank you so much for your support and interest. It has been a pleasure.

Justin Lowman is currently a member of the myartspace.com community. You can learn more about Justin by visiting his myartspace profile-- www.myartspace.com/justinlowman

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

myartspace

www.myartspace.com

New York Art Exchange

www.nyaxe.com

Art Space Talk: Lucy May

Lucy May, has won first place in the 2008 Graduate Scholarship Competition provided by myartspace.com. Lucy will receive a $5,000 cash scholarship from myartspace. The myartspace Art Scholarship program began in July 2008 and entries were due by December 15, 2008. $16,000 of cash scholarships are awarded to the top three winners in the undergraduate category and the graduate category. Entry to the competition is free as is membership to myartspace.

Lucy May completed her BA in Fine art at The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford. She is currently working on completing her MA in Art at the Royal College of Art in London. According to Lucy "My work is founded on an ongoing investigation of memory and the imagination, and revels in the grotesquely beautiful and the dusty annals of the past. The current sculptural work takes its cue from graphic sources such as the etchings of Rembrandt, Goya and Durer. It is heavily informed by Italian Baroque sculpture and therefore religious motifs.

Said motifs and arresting details from etchings are worked up into fantastical tableaux and figures. Their form, although recognizably in homage to traditional sculptural idioms, are molten and indeterminate; subject matter and meaning are thus rendered subservient to the seething and writhing mass of secretions and organic growth."

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder of myartspace and CEO noted, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

Citadel 1 by Lucy May

Brian Sherwin: Lucy, you are one of three winners of the graduate art scholarship competition provided by the artist social network myartspace.com. As you know the scholarship is intended for students who exhibit exceptional artistic excellence in their chosen medium and is to be used in order to further education in art. Can you describe how you felt entering the competition and your reaction to finding out that you had won?

Lucy May: Entering the competition was an excellent way for me to build a high quality gallery of my work online, since I don't yet have my own website. I was aware that the site is vast and diverse, and that there would be many applications for the Scholarship. I am honored that my work was selected and delighted that so many more people will be able to view my work as a result of this competition. I'm also excited about the possibilities that this will open up for me.

BS: Lucy, you are currently attending the Royal College of Art in London. Can you discuss you academic background? Have you had any influential instructors?

LM: Before my BA my academic background was very ordinary so I'll credit my parents with instilling in me my imaginative tendencies and thirst for knowledge.

I completed my BA at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at Oxford University, which is an fascinating and unique place to study Fine Art. In particular, the study of human anatomy, taught by Dr. Sarah Simblet, was unforgettable and crucial to my creative development. Brian Catling, Head of Sculpture and Richard Wentworth, Ruskin Master, were also influential characters during this time.

I'm now into my second term of a two year MA at the Royal College of Art, London, following some time away from studying. During that time I continued to make new work and put on exhibitions, but am currently flourishing in an environment where I can immerse myself in my work and the creative atmosphere of the College, which I believe is second to none.

Living in Hackney in London has been hugely influential to me and I would like to highlight the support I have received from my fellow artists and the galleries I have been involved with most recently, namely:
Pharos (www.pharosgallery.com/)
Wilson Williams (www.wilsonwilliamsgallery.com/)
and Gone Tomorrow (www.gonetomorrowgallery.co.uk/info.html)

Citadel 2 by Lucy May

BS: You have stated that your work is founded on an ongoing investigation of memory and the imagination. Can you go into further detail about that? Tell us more about the thoughts behind your work…

LM: I am fascinated by the nature of human memory. I believe that imagination plays a huge part in the way we remember and that our imaginitive workings are steeped in personal memory, so I am currently researching the connection between the two. I am in love with the past and have tendencies towards introspection and a touch of melancholia; my internal or imaginative life is very rich, so my work aims to distil these things and give them an appropriate physical form.

BS: You have stated that your sculptural work is influenced from graphic sources such as the etchings of Rembrandt, Goya, Durer. Can you go into further detail about those influences concerning the context of your art?

LM: The etchings which I have seen by the above mentioned artists interest me for two main reasons. The first is the dramatic visual power of such detailed and highly wrought surfaces and beautifully rendered forms. The second is the incredible psychological intensity, particularly in Goya's work, of the subject matter, and the haunting effect this can have on the viewer.

Citadel 2 (detail) by Lucy May

BS: What about other influences?

LM: I am interested in the way that different cultures deal with loss and commemoration. I am therefore always fascinated to see relics, shrines, mementos and other such objects in all their diverse forms.

Children's books and toys from the past and graphic art from the Art Deco period have also been important to me. I love false flowers, plastic tat and other kinds of contemporary kitsch items, in which I find a kind of sad beauty.

Proust's epic work In Search of Lost Time has provided a background accompaniment to my thoughts about my work and life since 2002 and his reflections on memory have reinforced and inspired my own.

Most recently, the grandeur and gestural qualities of Italian Baroque sculpture have informed my work in wax. I'm an ardent admirer of Auguste Rodin and Medardo Rosso, and of course Gianlorenzo Bernini.

BS: How do you utilize symbolism within your work? For example, do colors have specific meanings to you? Discuss this aspect of your art…

LM: My work over the last few years have been entirely dominated by black, alluding to generalised ideas of death and mourning, but also because I felt that colour was superfluous and would distract me from the pursuit of beauty in form. Recent developments, as a result of resuming my studies, have led me to experiment with colour and have opened up new avenues of exploration.

Conglomerate 2 by Lucy May

BS: Can you discuss the art that you decided to enter into the competition. In your opinion, why do those specific works reflect your growth as an artist?

LM: The work that I entered into this competition represents my output since leaving my BA course in 2005. During this time I feel that my work has developed significantly, becoming more ambitious and resolved. I have learned new things from each piece I have made. Each time I have completed a work I have seen what I need to do for the next one, in order to get closer to my ideal - of being able to successfully express in three dimensions the things I have mentioned above.

BS: In your opinion, how is the internet changing the landscape of the art world, so to speak. Obviously artists today have more opportunities than they had before the advent of the World Wide Web. What your thoughts on this?

LM: The Internet allows artists to have their work seen by a huge and diverse international audience in a quick, accessible and unintimidating fashion, and also to be the author of their own persona or mythology. The power of promotional tools such as online galleries and social networking sites would have been unimaginable pre-Internet, and I believe that there is yet more potential here, since the format is relatively young. It is an exciting time.

Conglomerate 4 by Lucy May

BS: What are your future plans as far as your art is concerned?
LM: My work is entering a more experimental phase. I will be concentrating on trying new processes and materials and combining them with the aspects of my practice I feel are already successful.

BS: Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your art?

LM: Only that I'm looking forward to getting back into the studio

You can read more of my interviews by visiting the following page-- www.myartspace.com/interviews.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

www.myartspace.com

myartspace announces Winners of 2008 Undergraduate Scholarship Competition‏

MYARTSCHOLARSHIP: Undergraduate Competition Winners 2008

myartspace.com is pleased to announce the top winners of the 2008 Undergraduate Scholarship Competition. Over 1,200 schools were represented between the undergraduate and graduate entries. The myartspace scholarship program arises from commitment to supporting artists develop their skills and careers. For two years myartspace has been a key figure in availing opportunity in the arts on the web and in global events. Graduate winners will be announced soon.

Below are the top-3 winners of the undergraduate competition and the winner of the iPhone. The winning undergraduate students will split $8000 in cash scholarships. To see the 50 finalists, click HERE.

First Place Winner: Sara Susin (Stanford University)
Sara Susin was born in Denver, Colorado. She is currently completing her BA at Stanford University with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Creative Writing. She has been painting at the Art Students League of Denver since 1990. She has taken classes from Heather Delzell, Kevin Weckbach, Kim English, Ron Hicks, Ken Velastro and Quang Ho. In 2004, Sara won the Allied Arts Award. In 2005 she was highlighted in Southwest Art Magazine's annual "21 under 30" feature. Sara has sold paintings to private and corporate collections including the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Collection. Sara plans to pursue a career as an oil painter. To read an interview with Sara, Click HERE.

Back to the Sun, 40" x 48", oil on wood. Sara Susin‘s Winning Gallery

Second Place Winner: Jessica Brown (University of Alaska)
Jessica Brown is completing her BA in Art degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Jessica has participate in a number of solo and group exhibits. In her own words "I believe in the off-kilter, the beauty of the asymmetrical, and the balance of opposition. I revel in the surprising, messy and often humorous nature of life. My works are inspired by the question marks surrounding cultural dualities such as mind/body, man/nature, and self/other. Whether with painting, performance, or installations my aim is to stimulate introspective dialogue in my viewer and expand their intrigue of the absurdities of life." To Read an interview with Jessica, click HERE.

Match Book, altered book, ink and matches. Jessica Brown’s Winning Gallery

Third Place Winner: Zach Stein (University of Kentucky)
Zach Stein's installations, monotypes, and paintings tend to be experimental in nature. This is achieved by the fact that Zach utilizes a variety of mediums in an intuitive manner-- everything from hot glue to rum. He is an artist who is not afraid to test the limits of his materials. Zach is currently a student at the University of Kentucky. Zach is currently and undergraduate student in art education/studio at University of Kentucky. To read an interview with Zach, click HERE

faulter, 60x60, acrylic on plastic bags. Zach Stein’s Winning Gallery

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder myartspace and CEO noted "The student body within myartspace is significant in size and importance. We devised a scholarship program for both our graduate and undergraduate students to compete for consideration and win a meaningful cash scholarship. We hope to expand this program each year."

Catherine McCormack-Skiba went on to say, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

About myartspace:

myartspace, the premier online venue for contemporary art, is one of the fastest growing and diverse communities on the internet. Its members include more than 50,000 artists, collectors, galleries and other art world professionals from across the globe, and it currently hosts the work of nearly 30,000 artists. Membership is free and artist can upload an unlimited amount of work including images, music and video. Myartspace is created and run by CatMacArt Corporation. www.catmacart.com.

Art Space Talk: Jessica Brown

Jessica Brown is the second place winner of the 2008 Undergraduate Scholarship Competition provided by myartspace.com. Jessica will receive a $2,000 cash scholarship from myartspace. The myartspace Art Scholarship program began in July 2008 and entries were due by December 15, 2008. $16,000 of cash scholarships are awarded to the top 3 winners in the undergraduate category and the graduate category. Entry to the competition is free as is membership to myartspace.

Jessica has stated the following about her art, “I believe in the off-kilter, the beauty of the asymmetrical, and the balance of opposition. I revel in the surprising, messy and often humorous nature of life. My works are inspired by the question marks surrounding cultural dualities such as mind/body, man/nature, and self/other. Whether with painting, performance, or installations my aim is to stimulate introspective dialogue in my viewer and expand their intrigue of the absurdities of life.”

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder of myartspace and CEO noted, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

For more information about the myartspace Art Scholarship program and 2008 winners visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships/winners

Reprise, Collaboration with Jsun. Acrylic paint spray paint, Carharts and collage on glass.

Brian Sherwin: Jessica, you are one of three winners of the undergraduate art scholarship competition provided by the artist social network myartspace.com. As you know the scholarship is intended for students who exhibit exceptional artistic excellence in their chosen medium and is to be used in order to further education in art. Can you describe how you felt entering the competition and your reaction to finding out that you had won?

Jessica Brown: This was a great opportunity for someone living in a pretty secluded place, such as Alaska, to get my art out there. I am a little shocked that I won a place in the competition because I know how many talented artists entered. Just by participating I feel more connected to the outside, let alone winning!

Controlling Giants by Jessica Brown

BS: Can you tell us about your academic background in art. I understand that you are currently studying at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Do you have any influential instructors or fellow students that you would like to mention?

JB: I am almost finished with my BA in Art from the University of Alaska Anchorage, which about sums up my academic background in art. UAA is pretty small and often lacking in equipment and staff for the arts, so my schooling has been mostly a "do-it-yourself" education. This has become more of a blessing than a hindrance to me when I think about it now though because I have been able to figure things out on my own, and come up with innovated ways to get things to work.

I'd say the most important aspect of my academic education are my peers. I am extremely lucky to have access to other innovated talented artists at UAA who are just as dedicated to making things work as I am. Jsun Parizo, Ruby Kennel, Craig Updegrove, and Alisha Silverstein are just four of the many extremely motivated and talented artists that I have been lucky enough to collaborate with on multiple occasions.

Another great thing about growing up in a place where art is less than adequately funded is that I have had the opportunity as an undergraduate to organize shows and performances at some really great galleries like the MTS Gallery and Out North. If you are doing something different, or something at all, people will notice in a place like Anchorage, which has given me, and others like myself, a great opportunity to experiment and learn.

BS: Concerning your art you have stated the following, "I believe in the off-kilter, the beauty of the asymmetrical, and the balance of opposition. I revel in the surprising, messy and often humorous nature of life.". Can you go into further detail about that? Tell us more about the thoughts behind your art…

JB: I think that life is grand and fantastical and messy and confusing all at once. Most of the time I feel like I am going with the flow, but sometimes I feel like a manifestor. Leaving a little bit up to chance and showcasing the natural oddities that I find feels natural to me. For example, we can put a road over the frozen tundra up here, but inevitably in a year or so the frost heaves will flex the asphalt to extremes and cause it to crack. Life is messy but somehow balanced and predictable. I look at my art this way as well, I am inspired by contradictions and absurdities and try to display them the best I can.

Controlling Giants #2 by Jessica Brown

BS: Can you discuss some of the methods or techniques that you utilize?

JB: My process is an involuntary cerebral one. My work is inspired by everyday questions that I run into. The way my brain works is to push these everyday questions into categories under larger questions. For example, some of my work is about animal cruelty, which I place under the duality of human and other; we can rationalize harming things other than us. Then I get thinking about that larger idea and stretch it over other circumstances where I think it fits. This process usually gets me started on a body of work, but as I am dedicated to being open to chance and happy accidents as well during its execution.

I start off my paintings by taking a trip to the junkyard and getting old windows, doors, wood, and other pieces of junk. I get the surfaces and the pieces for everything ahead of time and kind of sit around them in the studio while I work until their place makes sense. I use mostly oil paint, beeswax and collage in my paintings. I love texture and build up the surfaces of my paintings for a while before adding images on top of them.
BS: What about influences? Are you influenced by any specific artist or art movements?

JB: I am inspired greatly by Bacon, Rauschenberg, Jenny Saville, Andre Breton, and the list goes on. My heart is really drawn to outside artists and folk artists like Adolf Wolfli and Dr. Evermore who have created worlds with their art.
Match Book, altered book, ink and matches

BS: Can you discuss the art you decided to enter into the competition. In your opinion, why do those specific works reflect your growth as an artist?

JB: Those works are all successes to me. When I look at a piece and either have no questions, or very few, and it relays the message I intended, then it is successful. I think that my scholarship portfolio is a good representation of my entire body of paintings.

BS: In your opinion, how is the internet changing the landscape of the art world, so to speak. Obviously artists today have more opportunities than they had before the advent of the World Wide Web. What your thoughts on this?

JB: I am not sure about the continental US but I know that living in Alaska, the Web has expanded my artistic landscape as far as the breadth of contacts that I can make. I embrace online networking like MyArtSpace with open arms! I think that it is a great grassroots effort in getting artists motivated to rub virtual elbows with other talented artists that may be across the world. Very exciting.

Perfect Match, oil pastels, oil paint and spray paint on canvas

BS: What are your future plans as far as your art is concerned?
JB: Only two weeks ago I would have said that I would be going directly to graduate school to further my education, and decide my next step from there. In two weeks a lot can happen…now I am the co-owner of the restaurant that I have been working at for the past two years. My plans are now more rooted in Alaska, pushing my graduate school studies to more of a 5-year goal. So until then I will be making and participating in art every chance I get. I am currently working on a new body of work that is a little more sculpturally oriented than I have done before.

BS: Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your art?

JB: I would just like to say that I am thrilled to have my hard work recognized! Thank you for the wonderful competition.

You can learn more about Jessica Brown by visiting her website-- www.jessiebrownart.com. Jessica Brown is a member of the myartspace.com community-- www.myartspace.com/JessicaBrown

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
Senior Editor
myartspace
www.myartspace.com
New York Art Exchange (NYAXE)
www.nyaxe.com

Art Space Talk: Sara Sisun

Sara Sisun, an emerging artist from Denver, Colorado, has won first place in the 2008 Undergraduate Scholarship Competition provided by myartspace.com. Sara will receive a $5,000 cash scholarship from myartspace. The myartspace Art Scholarship program began in July 2008 and entries were due by December 15, 2008. $16,000 of cash scholarships are awarded to the top 3 winners in the undergraduate category and the graduate category. Entry to the competition is free as is membership to myartspace.

Sara Sisun is currently pursuing a BA at Stanford University with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Creative Writing. Sara has been painting and drawing at the Art Students League of Denver since 1990. She has taken classes from Heather Delzell, Kevin Weckbach, Kim English, Ron Hicks, Ken Velastro and Quang Ho. Her paintings can be found in private and corporate collections including the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Collection.

Catherine McCormack-Skiba, the founder of myartspace and CEO noted, “We had entries to the scholarship program from students at over 1,200 colleges and universities. The unbridled spirit and creativity from this group is quite impressive. While the top winners receive their recognition and award money, virtually all the submissions were of top-notch quality. We applaud the young contemporary artists in school today. Their contribution to the fine art world will be felt for decades to come. We are so excited from this first scholarship program we will be launching our 2009 scholarship program later this year and hope to see more than double the participation. Myartspace remains focused on improving the lives and careers of its community members.”

For more information about the myartspace Art Scholarship program and 2008 winners visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships/winners

Convulsion, 36" x 48"; oil on canvas. By Sara Sisun

Brian Sherwin: Sara, you are one of three winners of the undergraduate art scholarship competition provided by the artist social network myartspace.com. As you know the scholarship is intended for students who exhibit exceptional artistic excellence in their chosen medium and is to be used in order to further education in art. Can you describe how you felt entering the competition and your reaction to finding out that you had won?

Sara Sisun: I’ve been applying to graduate schools, so I was already uploading art to websites like “slideroom” for online portfolios. I was just checking out the myartspace site and saw the advertisement for the competition; I had my portfolio documented and available so I figured it would be easy to fill out one more application. I was completely shocked to hear that I had won; I thought the winners had already been announced. I’m nervous to hear back from graduate programs, so receiving such encouragement is really great.

The Dress Eater, 36" x 48", oil on wood. By Sara Sisun

BS: Can you tell us about your academic background in art. I understand that you are currently studying at Stanford University. Do you have any influential instructors or fellow students that you would like to mention?

SS: Stanford has a very unique program. I’ve been able to work with all kinds of mediums while still doing independent work painting. I’ve enjoyed that the emphasis isn’t on technique but on the collage of ideas and visual exploration. There are a lot of interesting classes on the cross over between art and science. I’ve also been able to take classes outside the art program, everything from Darwin to computer science.

I’m minoring in Creative Writing; I had the opportunity to collaborate with twelve other students on a graphic novel. Having the MFA students as TAs has also been great. They are a perspective from someone at a different point in their career. David Hannah and Enrique Chagoya have been two of my favorite professors to work with in the art department.

Back to the Sun, 40" x 48", oil on wood. By Sara Sisun

BS: Sara, I understand that since age six you have studied at the Art Students League of Denver under the instruction of Quang Ho, Ron Hicks, and Kevin Weckbach. Can you discuss that experience? How have each of these instructors influenced you?

SS: The Art Students League provided me with fantastic instruction in more traditional painting. I learned how to use shape, color, line, value, form, texture and pattern to create dynamic realism or abstraction. Studying with Kevin Weckbach in particular showed me that art is a real career, and that it’s something you can dedicate your life to, that can grow and change as you do.

Leaving the Art Students League (for college) was difficult, but I took the skills I learned there with me and I have been able to question their usefulness. I had to leave to see that I don’t want my paintings to be only about technique: hopefully there’s something about the human experience that transcends that. I’ve been forced to question what I learned, which is great. Any “rules” in art should always be questioned. Instead of following a checklist to create compositional “harmony” I’ve tried to explore inevitability.

Self Portrait as Silence and Noise, 42" x 52", oil on wood. By Sara Sisun

BS: Can you go into further detail about your art? Tell us about the thoughts behind your art…

SS: This is a difficult question to answer. I try to paint figures that exist in liminal psychological spaces: between pleasure and pain, humor and violence, sanity and insanity. As an artist, I’m always trying to activate the space between the viewer and the work, hopefully to deepen the mystery rather than solve it. For me, painting is about more than rendering and about more than describing what I see. Art is the best way I have of figuring out what the world is trying to show me.

BS: Can you discuss some of the methods or techniques that you utilize?

SS: I’ve always been an oil painter. Lately, I’ve been painting on wood because I like the firm surface and the luminosity of the wood underneath the oil. I use photographs for reference. I manipulate them in Photoshop before printing a hard copy to work from. I often go back into Photoshop after starting a piece and alter the image depending on the direction the painting is naturally going.

I get my references from photos I take, from the internet, from newspapers, movies, magazines, and old snapshots. I can’t really say what draws me to an image. I like distortions, dramatic lighting, and a feeling of the uncanny or a dream.

Blue Nude, 11" x 14", oil on canvas. By Sara Sisun

BS: What about other influences? Are you influenced by any specific artist or art movements?

SS: I love a lot of the work by the Young British Artists. Particularly Jenny Saville and Cecily Brown, whose influence is pretty obvious in my work. I’m also a huge fan of Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Willem de Kooning, Jim Dine, Kara Walker, Martin Creed, Raymond Pettibon, Cai Guo Qiang and Yan Pei Ming.

BS: Can you discuss the art that you decided to enter into the competition. In your opinion, why do those specific works reflect your growth as an artist?

SS: The work I entered into the competition is excerpts from several series I’ve done during collage. For a while I was painting dancers, and then I was painting my face in the photocopier. Next came some paintings with rocks in my mouth. Finally, I’ve been working on a project of paintings of my friends and family with paint on them. I’m trying to make the paintings look like they are being painted, creating the subject as we look at them (yeah, it’s a bit meta).

I also like the idea of having this record of all the people I know at this point in time, because it’s so transitory and I’ll be graduating soon. So I think the work I’ve entered represents the path my art has taken through my college career. All of it is somehow expressive. Some of it is sentimental. And hopefully all of it will lead to more ideas in one way or another.

Two Dreams, mixed media. By Sara Sisun

BS: In your opinion, how is the internet changing the landscape of the art world, so to speak. Obviously artists today have more opportunities than they had before the advent of the World Wide Web. What your thoughts on this?

SS: I think the internet has created fantastic opportunities to connect artists with one another. It’s now possible to receive funding, critique art, even sell art online. It’s also like having a constant pool of images to draw from, almost completely without context. It’s like the ultimate collage. What I’m not sure about is how the internet is going to influence the art we make. It’s sort of like how the camera so dramatically changed the purpose of painting. Is the internet joining us, or fragmenting us? The purpose of art is to communicate… I’m curious about what art will look like in a world of hyper-communication.

Help, I'm Stuck in the Photocopier No. 3, 40" x 48", oil on wood. By Sara Sisun

BS: What are your future plans as far as your art is concerned?
SS: To keep painting! I would like to go to graduate school, if not next year than the year after that. Wherever I am, I really can’t stop making art, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

BS: Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your art?

SS: Not really. Just that I’m trying to be honest about the whole thing; to trust that the work will happen as it is supposed to. The paintings, like Bacon said, become living things.

You can learn more about Sara Sisun by visiting her website-- www.sarasisun.com. Sara is a member of the myartspace.com community-- www.myartspace.com/sarasisun. For more information about the myartspace Art Scholarship program and 2008 winners visit, www.myartspace.com/scholarships/winners

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

www.myartspace.com