Cara Tomlinson
Props and Propositions
My work has a variety of overlapping concerns, exploring construction and evolution of self, boundaries of subjectivity, and the interconnection of self and environment through a grounding in material, process and the history of painting. In dialog with the long and varied tradition of modernist abstraction, I explore the intersection between painting and sculpture and the extension of painterly language into dimensional applications. The role the studio plays in my work is both structural and theoretical—it becomes the subject of the work as well as the frame for the process. Much of my recent work arises out of paying attention to the ecology, evolution and residue of the studio process and reusing and re-purposing material left over from other processes. This work is formally driven and playful-- studio objects co-exist with painted surfaces. These forms interbreed and engage each other. Objects influence paintings and paintings become inspiration for objects.
www.caratomlinson.com
Props and Propositions
My work has a variety of overlapping concerns, exploring construction and evolution of self, boundaries of subjectivity, and the interconnection of self and environment through a grounding in material, process and the history of painting. In dialog with the long and varied tradition of modernist abstraction, I explore the intersection between painting and sculpture and the extension of painterly language into dimensional applications. The role the studio plays in my work is both structural and theoretical—it becomes the subject of the work as well as the frame for the process. Much of my recent work arises out of paying attention to the ecology, evolution and residue of the studio process and reusing and re-purposing material left over from other processes. This work is formally driven and playful-- studio objects co-exist with painted surfaces. These forms interbreed and engage each other. Objects influence paintings and paintings become inspiration for objects.
www.caratomlinson.com
Corvallis Gazette-Times Dec 15. 2016
Corvallis Arts Walk Spotlight: Cara Tomlinson
Portland artist Cara Tomlinson will feature her exhibit, "Props and Propositions," at ArtWorks (CEI) during Thursday's Corvallis Arts Walk.
Name: Cara Tomlinson
Occupation: Artist and teacher. “I teach painting at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.”
Hometown: Portland
Exhibit: “Props and Propositions”
Location: ArtWorks (CEI)
Medium(s): “I work in a variety of media: paint, video, drawing, sculpture.”
About the work displayed: “My body of work from the last three years is motivated by questions about ecology of living systems, boundaries of subjectivity, and the interconnection of self and environment. The work in 'Props and Propositions' refers to the experiments in the studio and the reliance of each work upon the other. Each work props another up and serves as a proposition for the next piece. None of the pieces are individually titled since they are created as a group or living system.”
Inspiration: “Other art, living. ... I am immersed in the language of painting through processes and materials. My work explores the tensions between simplicity and complexity and the intersection between painting and sculpture.”
Impact on viewer: “Hopefully my work is accessible through formal qualities without the viewer knowing my conceptual framework. With 'Props and Propositions' I am interested in connecting the viewer in the gallery to the studio where art is made. The ecology of the studio is rich. There work exists in a variety of stages of growth and completion and materials have a direct relationship to the work they have unfolded. This ecology is what I am interested in representing.”
Previous exhibits: “I have shown my work regionally, nationally and internationally. Several years ago, I showed my work in Corvallis at the Fairbanks Gallery at OSU. I have also worked with Bruce Burris of ArtWorks before. In 2013, I did a short performance along the Willamette River in Corvallis titled, “Catch & Release: A Public Filtering.”
What should people know: “I’m a University of Oregon graduate and have received grants and residency awards from the Ucross Foundation, Millay Colony for the Arts, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Willapa Bay Artist Residency, Ford Foundation Grant, Individual Artist Fellowship Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and two Professional Development Grants from the Portland Regional Arts Council and Oregon Arts Commission.”
Corvallis Arts Walk Spotlight: Cara Tomlinson
Portland artist Cara Tomlinson will feature her exhibit, "Props and Propositions," at ArtWorks (CEI) during Thursday's Corvallis Arts Walk.
Name: Cara Tomlinson
Occupation: Artist and teacher. “I teach painting at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.”
Hometown: Portland
Exhibit: “Props and Propositions”
Location: ArtWorks (CEI)
Medium(s): “I work in a variety of media: paint, video, drawing, sculpture.”
About the work displayed: “My body of work from the last three years is motivated by questions about ecology of living systems, boundaries of subjectivity, and the interconnection of self and environment. The work in 'Props and Propositions' refers to the experiments in the studio and the reliance of each work upon the other. Each work props another up and serves as a proposition for the next piece. None of the pieces are individually titled since they are created as a group or living system.”
Inspiration: “Other art, living. ... I am immersed in the language of painting through processes and materials. My work explores the tensions between simplicity and complexity and the intersection between painting and sculpture.”
Impact on viewer: “Hopefully my work is accessible through formal qualities without the viewer knowing my conceptual framework. With 'Props and Propositions' I am interested in connecting the viewer in the gallery to the studio where art is made. The ecology of the studio is rich. There work exists in a variety of stages of growth and completion and materials have a direct relationship to the work they have unfolded. This ecology is what I am interested in representing.”
Previous exhibits: “I have shown my work regionally, nationally and internationally. Several years ago, I showed my work in Corvallis at the Fairbanks Gallery at OSU. I have also worked with Bruce Burris of ArtWorks before. In 2013, I did a short performance along the Willamette River in Corvallis titled, “Catch & Release: A Public Filtering.”
What should people know: “I’m a University of Oregon graduate and have received grants and residency awards from the Ucross Foundation, Millay Colony for the Arts, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Willapa Bay Artist Residency, Ford Foundation Grant, Individual Artist Fellowship Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and two Professional Development Grants from the Portland Regional Arts Council and Oregon Arts Commission.”
