|
|
 Joanna Whitney - Artist Statementby Joanna Whitney Art is something I have to do like breathing. It strengthens my relationship with my intuition and I have my own personal vision which has nothing to do with what goes on in the art world. My inspirations are Wassily Kandinsky and Gordon Onslow Ford, the Symbolists, Elizabeth Murray, and others, but in reality my work has nothing to do with the art world. I am led to do what I do by my relationship with Spirit.
I have been using abstract photography as a part of my work for over 10 years and have long been considering the idea of using my abstract photographic images within well-known images - the juxtaposition of abstraction within the familiarity of the known. I have been playing with that contradiction in painting since 2003 - in which I have used reality as the source of abstraction in what I have called Abstract Photorealism.
My most recent work are Digital Photo Collages of Byzantine Icons and American Icons and Spiritual Icons. Most recently I have found myself having to stand up for simple civil liberties that I have always enjoyed. Recently it seems more than at any other time, these basic civil liberties are threatened, so I have been looking back into history at leaders who had to stand up for what they believed even against the penalty of death.
I also continue to paint - currently on Salvaged Wood - using abstract photography as my source, with oil and inkjet prints on material - My recent interest in Spiritual Leaders has to do with needing heroes who stood up for what they believed in:
Civil liberties set limits for government so that it cannot abuse its power and interfere with the lives of its citizens. Common civil liberties include freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, and additionally, the right to due process, to fair trial, and to privacy.
These rights have been widely abused by our government under the guise of the "War on Terrorism". I don't give out my social security number. I don't understand why I need to give my id at my bank when I deposit money into my account. I don't understand why Bed, Bath, and Beyond needs my address and phone number when I am buying something from their store.
At a bank recently there was a sign which stated, you are being servielled by security cameras: please remove your helmet, hat, and sunglasses. I closed my account at that bank and told the officer why. I am noticing cameras on almost every street corner in Denver.
I have read that this is what it was like in pre-Nazi Germany - and citizens are mainly apathetic. Having these leaders in my periperhal vision helps me when I need the strength to speak up.
|
|
|