Mixing Art and Art History: An experience in three parts

I was given a marvelous opportunity: I was able to demonstrate the ways in which art history has impacted my work as an artist!  I presented an exhibition, a window installation, and an interactive performance on the ground floor of a newly renovated historic building on the Main Street of Peekskill,NY.  The exhibition and installation remained on view for a full month.

With two master’s degree in art history, it may seem inevitable that my visual art would reflect my academic background.  Indeed, my passion for western has been quite obvious in certain bodies of work.  For example, back in the nineties, I did a large series of collages based upon the appropriation of masterpieces from the western canon of painting.  These works formed the basis of the exhibition inside the building.   I also created a new body of digital work for the window installation, which was visible from the sidewalk outside.  In these work, assorted images from the history of art were accompanied by provocative questions – intended to arouse the curiosity of people on the street.  I also presented an interactive performance, which enabled members of the public to confront me with questions about the history of art.

Each part of the project was extremely gratifying!