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!
Sometimes I Love, Sometimes I Don't Love (detail)
TV Guide Woven in Paint into the Form of a Baby Blanket72" x 96" 2008 available here
TV Guide Woven in Paint into the Form of a Baby Blanket,detail
Ragdoll, detail
Veil16" 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
your work is amazing if you call it "failed " then please continue to "fail" more!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stuff. Really really lovely! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI am amazed and speechless. Rich, luscious.
ReplyDeleteW.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!
ReplyDeleteI just want to add that Ragdoll just knocks me out!!
ReplyDeleteSummer does incredible work. Thanks for posting about her.
ReplyDeleteXO
Amy Z