Artist Information for Barbara J. Schneider
My on-going interest in the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in things that are imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete is at the core of all of my art work. I like to capture the essence of images made of light and movement, images that are infinitely variable. What does the eye see? What does the camera see? What does the mind see? The Reflections series explores the concept of reflection and how to capture the images that are not physically there, images made of light and movement, images that change. The Leaves series is an exploration and interpretation of natural images by enlarging and reshaping them. I collect leaves, pods, flowers, grasses and look closely at their structure and shape. In particular, I like to collect these natural objects at the end of summer when they have begun to wither and fragment. Looking at them closely and then enlarging them allows me to see them as sculptural objects. I look at the play of light upon surfaces, and shaping the pieces introduces a new element – light and shadow interacting with the undulating surfaces. The Line Dance: Tree Ring Patterns series is an extension of this exploration of natural objects. Looking at the patterns in the tree rings and then the additional patterns created by overlapping and fragmenting the imagery allows me to see things in new ways The most recent series, Still Life in Indigo circles back to the use of some of my old Japanese Boro fabrics as backgrounds to create settings for objects that contain a wabi-sabi spirit in them. They are explorations of texture, color and form. In the end, all of these series are about reflection – whether physical, mental or emotional. It is what I do throughout my work process as well as what I hope viewers do as they look at the completed work. Images scroll down to view allGeneration 250028" x 28" x 6` strip   Diaspora 2500 was inspired by To Walk the World, an article written by journalist Paul Salopek for National Geographic magazine. He has embarked on a seven-year global trek from Africa to Tierra Del Fuego, following the journey of our Homo Sapiens ancestors. In 2,500 generations they spread from Africa to the most remote parts of the earth. I wanted to interpret the idea of generations moving onward, changing the world and humankind bit by bit, step by step. My interpretation was created as a 300 yard long dyed strip silkscreened with 2500 overlapping handprints wrapped as one continuous piece to represent the people, generations and the journey. The colors, the repetition of handprints and the interweaving create a distillation of the journey we have taken to inhabit all of the earth. Pavement Patterns, Dancing Light, var. 440" x 60"   I think we usually tend to look up at the urban landscape but I like all the markings and textures that you see at your feet walking through the city. Pavement Patterns, Dancing Light, var. 4 explores the strong graphics and abstractness created by light passing through a screen and shining onto pavement. Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns, var. 1339" x 56"   I am most at home walking in the woods where I take many photos including those of trees in all their many forms. I am drawn to the patterns in tree rings. They make me think about the passage of time and our place in the world. I find it meditative to work on these images. Leaf Fall, Oak Leaf Tangle, var. 240" x 40" x 7"   The Leaves series is an exploration and interpretation of natural images by enlarging and reshaping them. I collect leaves, pods, flowers, grasses and look closely at their structure and shape. I look at the play of light upon surfaces, and shaping the pieces introduces a new element – light and shadow interacting with the undulating surfaces. Leaf Fall, Hollyhocks80" x 50" x 5"   The Leaves series is an exploration and interpretation of natural images by enlarging and reshaping them. I collect leaves, pods, flowers, grasses and look closely at their structure and shape. In particular, I like to collect these natural objects at the end of summer when they have begun to wither and fragment. Looking at them closely and then enlarging them allows me to see them as sculptural objects. I look at the play of light upon surfaces, and shaping the pieces introduces a new element – light and shadow interacting with the undulating surfaces. |