AMY TAVERN
Statement
My work begins with formal explorations of line, shape, and negative space and extends to simple concepts of pattern, layering, and visual movement. In my series Line Drawings/Borderlines I begin by making individual elements in wire and sheet metal and through intuitive combination I create new, interdependent and often interactive spaces and patterns. I strive for a visual interplay between elements, creating pieces in which positive and negative space are equally important. The often asymmetrical compositions are hints of aerial views, maps, simple drawings, and my interest in the spatial arrangement of objects.
Regal Graffiti combines my interest in graffiti and antique jewelry. I am intrigued by the accumulated history graffiti conveys via layers of marks and how antique jewelry depicts specific time periods. In both cases evidence of the individual remains whether as graffiti artist, maker, or wearer. Although my work does not resemble graffiti in its purest form, I reference it by the way I manipulate the spray painted surfaces of each piece. I further reference graffiti by purposefully covering precious metal with paint like an irreverent tag on a statue. I show reverence also for the past by creating work that alludes both to traditional adornment, such as the teardrop, as well as jewelry that once belonged to my grandmother. My pieces begin with a personal vocabulary of formal elements including the layering of line, shape, and negative space. The intentional blending of the refined look of the antique with the urban feel of graffiti reveals a merged history and its significance to me.