Screentime
Works by James Secor, Aryk Tomlinson, and Robert Gold
Companion Objects, by James Secor
Folley Hall Gallery
November 17th, 2020 - January 15th, 2021
Screentime, a group exhibition that is part of the “2020 Vision: Seeing the World through Technology” Vermont Curator’s Group project, is in the upstairs gallery at River Arts November 17, 2020-January 15, 2021.
“2020 Vision: Seeing the World Through Technology” is a state-wide curatorial focus reflecting on the concept of 2020 being seen in pop culture as shorthand for a distant, high-tech future. Artists were invited to consider the important ways in which technology has impacted our personal lives, the world, and its potential for the future. Whether creating a sense of alienation on canvas, using photography to digitally enhance landscapes, each artist’s use of technology for inspiration and/or process is as unique as their final interpretations of the world around them. Participating artists include Aryk Tomlinson, Robert Gold, and James Secor.
James Secor’s body of work came out of a group critique where someone observed that one of his paintings looked like an aerial view of a city. This idea led him to wonder just how he could make aerial-view paintings where objects and people look convincing. He began to think about how often the 21st-century person looks downward. Whether looking at GPS maps to navigate, sending work email, or checking social media status, people seem to be constantly looking down at their phones, no matter what the setting. These two themes, aerial-view paintings and cell-phone culture, dominate his work.
Aryk Tomlinson’s body of work was captured during a 2-week solo trip in Japan. “The idea to travel here largely came from seeing the destination while browsing the web and eventually becoming inspired enough to make the leap and buy the plane ticket. While screens are ever-present in our daily lives, we can choose to use them in ways that add value or allow them to eat up our time. It can be a challenge to maintain a healthy balance when it comes to this. Ultimately there comes a moment where so much screen time is accumulated where we need to take a self-fulfilling action. This trip to Japan filled a void, allowing me to see a different view of the world and capture it through the individual perspective that I've developed over many years in Vermont.”
The biggest impact technology has had on Robert Gold’s life is the way he creates art. “Over twenty years ago I was in an accident that left me with traumatic brain injury and limited mobility. To be able to stay as independent as possible in making art, I made accommodations in the way I worked by incorporating more technology in my workflow. Instead of shooting with film, I began to use a digital camera. Now instead of carrying an art journal to sketch my subject matter, I use the digital photo I take as the under sketch for my work, which I can get on paper more quickly and accurately. This has also increased the volume of my work tremendously. In addition to creating correct perspective, I can also render color changes to my work on my computer within minutes instead of days with paint. The next two pieces of technology that helped me create my artistic vision is my laptop and photo editing software Photoshop. I manipulate color, brightness, saturation, and contrast to bring out my vision for the piece.
When the image is to my liking, I use the final piece of technology I have at home, my printer. I print my image and then use acrylic paint and ink. Painting creates a luminosity the digital image alone cannot and merges the two techniques. I then send it to a printing company to be printed on canvas. As with the paper pieces, the final touches are done in acrylic paint and ink. I want the viewer to see the different stages of my work to encourage them that they too can express themselves through art and bring their ideas to life, no matter what their abilities are. The process of completing art is empowering to me and I want it to be for others as well.”
River Arts is physically accessible for participants who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, and those who prefer not to use stairs. We invite you to contact us with specific accommodations you need to facilitate your experience at the galleries.