Artist: Charlotte Lowry Collins
Title: Perceptions I
Medium: handmade cast paper, silver leaf and acrylic
Signed by the artist
Dimensions: 26 (width) x 40 (length), 2.5 inch depth
This piece is unframed.
Description of piece: In the artist's words: This work is part of a series entitled Perceptions, which deals with how our thoughts affect our sense of reality, regardless of the actualities. In Perceptions I, I depicted Beaux, my rescued Weimaraner, resting peacefully on his new, luxurious bed, cuddled next to my husband. Above him, like a constant cartoon bubble, remains his abusive past, and the bullying he experienced by the other rescued dogs. No matter that he was the sole canine in our home, his new sanctuary. I realized that all living beings are susceptible to misconceptions, and the skewed realities that follow. In creating this experience, I was reminding myself to break this pattern, and possibly empower my viewers to relinquish their fears. With the milestone of the one decade since Katrina, we may all need some form of solace. Art has the power to heal with but a glance, if we but allow ourselves that moment.
Artist Bio: "My art is best described as contemporary mixed media. The most common media I tend to incorporate is hand made cast paper (HMCP to paper artists). I mix fragile materials with more standard, rugged media such as metals, metal leaf and wood. After the relief piece is assembled, the painter in me takes over to complete relief pieces such as these. If you look at the subject matter, my message also references the ability for fragility to survive in in rugged environments. It is hard to categorize my work as sculpture or paintings, as the truth is somewhere between these definitions. Throughout my professional career experiences, one thread is visible, that of intertwining the arts to not only educate our community, but to enlighten and elevate them even if for a few hours. I hold a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Memphis College of Art. In my off hours, I am also the Director for the Olde Towne Arts Center and write monthly articles for the Slidell Magazine. My photography has been published as well. When it comes to creative expression, I do not prevision boundaries in medium or in methods of communication. My art is always about the human condition, no matter the symbolism." --Charlotte Lowry Collins
This artwork was contributed as part of the “Hope for Habitat: Katrina X” event. See more information at www.RightBrainDiaries.com.