Friday, August 21, 2009

Summer Wheat

Amy at shopSCAD paid a visit to the studio of Summer Wheat yesterday and shared the highlights with me over the phone. Summer is getting ready to move to Brooklyn this week and Amy was lucky to sneak in one last studio visit. Summer is a fellow SCAD Painting grad who has developed an incredible method and style of work that I can only describe as new and spectacular. These photos really don't do her work justice. You must find an opportunity to get up close to appreciate her sculpted and sewn painting technique and be enveloped by their giant blanket-like size. Her work is on display at shopSCAD and if you're near Brooklyn she's going to be a featured artist this fall at Bric Contemporary Art. Catch her while you can, we think she's about to skyrocket into art stardom!
Ragdoll
36" x 36" 2007

Ragdoll, detail

Maid
60" x 72" 2007

Granny Princess
16" x 20" 2008

Veil
16" x 20" 2008

I don’t describe my work as “abstract painting.” I see it as failed representational sculpture, and I love its failure. How can I make paint three-dimensional? How can I depict a subject matter that is more than its form? These are the questions that push me to abuse the purity of paint and uplift the awkward moments in human life. My paintings are full of messy human content: dorkiness, disappointment, humor and loss. -Summer Wheat

6 comments:

Unknown said...

your work is amazing if you call it "failed " then please continue to "fail" more!!!!

HannahB said...

Beautiful stuff. Really really lovely! thanks for sharing

Laura said...

I am amazed and speechless. Rich, luscious.

Sarah Bush said...

W.O.W. I LOVE these--the stitching adds an incredible addition--to both the surface and the content--thanks so much for the closeups--it really added to my appreciation!

Sarah Bush said...

I just want to add that Ragdoll just knocks me out!!

shopSCAD said...

Summer does incredible work. Thanks for posting about her.

XO
Amy Z