Speak with an Accent

There are two central, interrelated themes in my work.

I look at how language refers to one aspect of communication. Language can act as a paradigm of our place in the world, and the specificity of my-not-quite-immigrant experience in Canada. Who am I if my mother tongue is Broken-English? Not completely Canadian, and yet as a caucasian with a Canadian accent when speaking, not 'other'. As an extension to issues of language I use text; text as rhythm, visual & sound. The rhythm of life; breathing, music, etc. And, text as a method of delivering meaning, thought,… explicative, as in ‘serving to explain logically what is contained in the subject.’ (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Painting is a language. Art making is language making. Visual art is a method of speaking, declaring, communicating… As the child of immigrants I am imbued with a sense of many languages. And perhaps through these many, more than one other, language(s), I can re-describe myself. Then I come home and ‘close’ the lights. How do I speak to you? How do you understand me? How do you read/hear my spoken words, whether heavily accented or just slightly skewed? How do you read my art?

I also work with the concept of Industry and the intrinsic value of various industries.

In reflecting on the artist in society, I look to the actual act of making, engaging in physical labour, in whatever way they manifest themselves to any artist, and to me in particular. The concept of industry gives value to my place as an artist in the world. You grow corn. You write ad copy. You sell stuff. I make art.

That is my industry. I reflect on art-making in an industrious world. I hold up my art process as a testament to my contribution, or simply my busy-ness. ‘Here, this is what I do with my time’ I plan, think, jot notes, look at the world (or word!), look at my/your place in the world, mix paint, embroider canvasses, have big & small ideas, draw, scribble, in the quest to live industriously and to state my place.