I came across mixed media/found object artist, James Michael Starr before the holidays and have been thinking about his work ever since. His statement:
I find the aged and battered objects commonly employed in assemblage and collage to be both beautiful and moving, but am weary of their tendency, as art mediums, to take themselves so seriously. I hope to tweak that somberness and agenda, and make works that are more accessible, by evoking frivolous imagery from our collective consciousness.
Dream Girl(2009) 22 x 15 x 13 in.
Fiberglass bust, rotogravure book and newspaper photos, wood base
Narrow Gate(2008) 28 x 22 x 3 inches
Wood columns, book covers and illustrations, steel
Dad(2008) 16 x 5 x 4 inches
Steel and wood trowel, photographic print
Sixty Six (2009) 20 x 13.25 x 4 inches
Croquet ball, decorative trim, steel
The Day I Felt I Had Enough(2007) 12" x 9”
Collage of lithographed book images on canvas
The Day I Didn't Matter(2007) 12" x 9”
Collage of lithographed book images on canvas
The Day I Burned Inside(2007) 12" x 9”
Collage of lithographed book images on canvas
The Day I Dared Not Rise(2007) 12" x 9”
Collage of lithographed book images on canvas
3 comments:
I love the work of James Michael Starr. I have been a fan for some time. I was very happy to see your post today. Thanks for sharing.
Diane
Katie: I no sooner write statements like the one you've quoted than I feel I myself am being rather pompous, pretentious and self-important. I guess there's no way to avoid it. Anyhow, thank you for your kind words. You're doing good work. –– JMS
James Michael Starr is in the leagues with the best in the world of art assemblage artists. His approach is unpretenious with a refreshing outlook but with complex fluid undertones of sophistication. A classic for sure using imagery to transform these old objects into a little art universe which gives them a new idenity.
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