KATHRYN DEMARCO SECRETS & LIES
Artist’s Statement
I entertain myself by making collages and drawings that are jam packed with “Secrets & Lies”. My life, my personality, my animals, family and friends all stream through in hidden images. The music, books, scissors and running shoes (that is, all of the hours of thinking) that I love are evident in this work. Through a slow, methodical selection of images and textures and tones, I achieve a composition that tells a story that is open to your interpretation.
The collages begin with small pen & ink drawings that are corrected by gluing clean pieces of paper over drawing mistakes. Next a full size charcoal drawing, then comes the collage, on top of the charcoal. I start with the background, filling the background space with images that will read solid from a distance, intriguing from close up. . When the images in the windowsills and walls and all are in place, I add the stuff in the foreground. The figure, the cats, the dogs, the scissors emerge using the same method. I ask myself, “Will the color of the paper work? Will the image in the photo work? Will the text work?“ By the end, I am using slivers of paper to create edges, shadows and definition, while trying not to lose my clever images that are embedded.
I alternately choose images that descriptively fit the composition in tone, texture and content or images that blatantly disregard the feeling and meaning of the painting. Some images secretly contribute to the statement we, the painting and I, are trying to make. I thrill myself by finding images that absolutely fit into this idea. I am equally, if not more, amused when the image fits the composition perfectly in tone only, but actually “says” something contradictory, a lie. By then end, I am using slivers of paper to create edges, shadows and definition, while trying not to lose the clever images that are embedded. So this time, I have focused on the instrument that has endured all of the hard work. My Scissors! All of them objectified to be not so sharp, to be harmless even, but so “so” dirty.
Linwood and I have known and worked with each other for over 10 years. His work has evolved in a similar way to mine. The collaboration of the works in Secrets & Lies will be exciting. I love Linwood’s passion for art and for life and for creativity. .
My way of painting, so sneaky, allows me to work with everything around me. I use what I hear, read and see. Things I find are fun to incorporate into the art. This makes the process of painting so fun. When I collage animal portraits, I always ask the people, the pet owners, about the family’s interests. I want to include material from work or play, kid’s art, maps or menus, whatever will make the painting as amusing to the client as it is to me.
September 2007 Secrets & Lies, Craven Allen Gallery, Durham, NC Painting by Linwood Hart, Collage by Kathryn DeMarco A show that displays the talents of two painters who have buried their secrets & lies under layers of paint and glue!
April 2007 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, The Power of Ten Commissioned painting to celebrate the 10 year Anniversary of the festival
March 2007 Small Works, Invitational Show curated by Paul Hrusovsky Craven Allen Gallery, Durham, NC
November 2006 Juried Show, Durham Art Guild, judge, Peetah Coyne
September -2006 Mixed Media in the Triangle, Invitational Show curated by Luna Lee Ray, The Chapel Hill Public Library
February 23, 2006- Four Person Show: Animals, Durham Art Guild, April 2, 2006 Central Carolina Bank Gallery
November 2005 Juried Show, Durham Art Guild, judge, Judy Chicago
2004, 2005, 2006 MOMArt, , sponsored by Just A Few Friends
2004 The Body Show, an invitational figurative show at Craven Allen Gallery, Durham
2004 Cut Paper & Paint, The Marshall Gallery, Greensboro, NC,
2004 The Triangle's Best Art, a juried Competition at Lee Hansley Gallery Award of Distinction 2003 Glue, Paper, Scissors, solo show at Craven Allen Gallery, Durham 2002 Juried Show, Durham Art Guild 2001 Self-Portrait, solo show at Craven Allen Gallery, Durham 2001 Member's Show, Durham Art Guild 2001-present Francesca's Dessert Café, Durham 1996 Member's Show, Durham Art Guild
Education 1995-2001 Vaugel Sculpture Studio, figurative sculpture under the direction of Martine Vaugel, Durham 1992 Boston University College of Art, BFA |