Carolyn Salas Work | Artist Statement & CV | Return to Artist List
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Artist Statement
Oscillating between abstraction and figuration between site-specific works and sculpture, I use a wide array of materials including, found objects, photography, collage, craft oriented assemblages, fabric and recycled items. With laborious craft and a handmade touch, the imperfections and human attributes of burdens, failures and achievements of our everyday are exposed. My art practice is an act of navigating experience, fiercely picking and rifling through our collective visual world, determined to capture meaning out of the present moment. The work speaks to interactions between human civilizations, hierarchical powers of societal success, relationships, and nature with an emotional resonance that takes the works beyond any one of these single issues and into a universal realm. I am interested in the “in-between” stages; the tension that lies both within the physical space and the psychological space. I want my work to reflect a multiplicity of forces and dimensions; a self-exploration of the subconscious, where I try to physically create a state of mind. Responding to Carl Jung’s idea of artists and alchemist’s projecting part of their psyche into matter or inanimate objects, possessing in a sense a “secret soul”, the objects eventually live out a life of their own.
Oscillating between abstraction and figuration between site-specific works and sculpture, I use a wide array of materials including, found objects, photography, collage, craft oriented assemblages, fabric and recycled items. With laborious craft and a handmade touch, the imperfections and human attributes of burdens, failures and achievements of our everyday are exposed. My art practice is an act of navigating experience, fiercely picking and rifling through our collective visual world, determined to capture meaning out of the present moment. The work speaks to interactions between human civilizations, hierarchical powers of societal success, relationships, and nature with an emotional resonance that takes the works beyond any one of these single issues and into a universal realm. I am interested in the “in-between” stages; the tension that lies both within the physical space and the psychological space. I want my work to reflect a multiplicity of forces and dimensions; a self-exploration of the subconscious, where I try to physically create a state of mind. Responding to Carl Jung’s idea of artists and alchemist’s projecting part of their psyche into matter or inanimate objects, possessing in a sense a “secret soul”, the objects eventually live out a life of their own.
CV
CAROLYN SALAS
Brooklyn, NY
EDUCATION
CUNY Hunter College, M.F.A., New York, 2005
Glasgow School of Art, Hunter College Study Abroad Program, Scotland, 2004
College of Santa Fe, B.F.A. (Honors), Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1999
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009
Babel Collections, New Outdoor Commissioned Sculptures, Art Space, New Haven, CT
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2009
Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself, Carolyn Salas and Adam Parker Smith, Gallerie Nordine Zidoun, Luxembourg
2008
Feast of Burden, Carolyn Salas and Adam Parker Smith, Silly Thing Gallery, Hong Kong
2007
Against Stone and Sea, Priska Juschka Fine Art Gallery, New York
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2011
The Unseen (forthcoming), curated by Adela Leibowitz, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, California
Everything Must Go, Organized by Jose Noe Suro and Eduardo Sarabia, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York
Al Ghaib: Aesthetics of Disappearance, curated by Gaia Serena Simionatii, Stux Gallery, New York
Purified Thoughts, curated by Jon Lutz, Rawson Projects, Brooklyn, New York
Improbable Self: Notes from the Void, curated by Fran Holstrom, Saint Cecilia’s Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
In back of the Real, International Studio & Curatorial Program, curated by Dr. Necmi Sönmez, Brooklyn, New York
2010
Physical Center, Covent of Saint Cecilia, curated by Amada Schmitt, Greenpoint, New York
See you in September, Parlour NO. 18, curated by Leslie Rosa and Ciara Gilmartin, Brooklyn, New York
Value City, Little Berlin, Philadelphia, PA
If You See Nothing, Say Something, Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, New York
Word-less, curated by Felicity Hogan, The Elizabeth Foundation, New York
Talons, Swords and Samurai: A Show of Power, Berkshire Museum, MA
2009
Trophies, Collaboration with Adam Parker Smith, Parisian Laundry, Montreal, QC
Scope Art Fair, New Commissions, Lincoln Center, New York
State of the Art: New York, Urbis City Center, Manchester, U.K.
Everybody, curated by Ryan Schneider, Envoy Gallery, New York
2008
Peekskill Project, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, New York
I Held a Jewel in My Hand and Fell Asleep, Main Site Contemporary, Oklahoma
Admirer, curated by Maureen Cavanaugh, 31 Grand Gallery, New York
Home Base Project III, curated by Anat Litwin, New York
2007
Ad Nueseam Lyceum, curated by Ryan Frank, New York
2006
Materiality, Kravets & Wheby Gallery, New York
2005
New Found Land, curated by Yaelle Amir, Priska Juschka Fine Art Gallery, New York
Red/White/Blue, Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York
Breaking Ground, The New York Horticultural Society, New York
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Hunter College, Times Square Gallery, New York
HONORS/AWARDS RECEIVED
2011
Abrons Art Center, AIRspace Residency Program, NY
The Elizabeth Foundation Studio Program/Space Award, NY
Franconia Sculpture Park Residency Program, Jerome Grant, MN
2009
Artspace, New Haven, CT
Djerrassi Artists Residency, CA
2008
Blue Mountain Center, NY
Jentel Artist Residency, WY
The Santa Fe Art Institute, NM
2007
Cha North Artist Residency, NY
2006
Chashama Studio Space Award, NY, 2006-2009
2004
Rita Glassier Scholarship, Study Abroad Program,Hunter College, NY
2000
Vermont Studio Center, (Pollack-Krasner Award), VT
LECTURES & ARTIST TALKS
Urbis City Center, Moderated by Carlos McCormick, Manchester, U.K. 2009
Artist Space, New Haven CT, 2009
Artist in Residence, MS. 137, Brooklyn, NY, 2009
Santa Fe Art Institute, NM, 2008,
Radio Television Hong Kong/Morning Brew, Hong Kong, 2008
Santa Fe Radio Café, Santa Fe, NM, 2008
Hunter College, MFA Thesis Panel, Moderator by Katy Siegel and Anthony Huberman, NY, 2005
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2011
Art Book Club Presents: Cowboy Mouth, St. Cecelia’s Convent, Greenpoint, NY
^..^ / , Casita Maria Center for the Arts and Education, Bronx, NY
COMMISSIONS
2007
Staten Island Yankee Stadium, Chashama Window Project, New York
2005
The Swiss Institute, Annual Benefit and Auction, Emerging Artist Award
APPOINTMENTS
2011
Lecturer, Professor, Yale University School of Art, New Haven, CT
2010
Assistant Professor, College of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrew Russeth, 16 mi., “In Back of the Real”: Around the International Studio & Curatorial Program, May 23, 2011,http://www.16miles.com/2011/05/in-back-of-real-in-and-around.html Manya Schep, Philadelphia Weekly, First-Friday-Picks, May 05, 2010
Diana Mellon, The New Haven Advocate, “The Lots Junkyard Art”, August 05, 2009
Allan Appel, The New Haven Independent, “A Recycled “Babel” Rises”, July 31, 2009
Register Staff, The New Haven Register, “The Lot shows just what student artists can do”, August 10, 2009
Stacey DeWolfe, Mirror Magazine-Artsweek, Montreal, “Guns n’ Antlers”, June 25- July 01, 2009
Karen Rosenberg, New York Times, “Toplessness and Taxidermy in a Bottoming Market”, March 07, 2009
Angela Kelly, Trafford Metro News, Manchester, “Big Apple Art, but Bite-sized”, April 15, 2009
Art World, “Urbis Delivers Hot Stuff From New York”, April / May. 2009
Didier Damiani, d, Land Kultur, “Corpus Christi Amen”, January 30, 2009
Laetitia Collin, La Voix, “Un Materialism Encombrant”, Jan. 2009
France Clarinval, Le Quotidien, “Drole De Communion”, Jan. 2009, www.lequotidien.lu
Creative Force, Milk Magazine, www.milk.com.hk, 2008
Radio Television Hong Kong, htt://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/morning brew, 2008
Benjamin Genocchio, The New York Times, “In Peekskill, 2 Shows of Raw Works”, 2008
Jeffrey Cyphers Wright, Chelsea Now Magazine, “Admirer” Calibrates the Edges of Accord, 2008
Santa Fe Radio Café, www.santaferadiocafe.org/podcasts, 2008
Shu Hung & Joe Magliaro, By Hand, Craft in Contemporary Art, Princeton Architectural Press, 2007
Alison B. Levy, New York Arts Magazine, “Splendor at the Market, July/Aug., 2006
Ken Johnson, The New York Times, Art Listing, “Materiality”, Aug., 2006
The New Yorker, Around Town, Art, “Natural Views”, July 2005
The Village Voice, Voice Picks, “Breaking Ground”, Horticultural Society, Aug. 2005
MFA Candidates, Hunter College Publications, “Spring Semester”, 2005
Carey Ann Schaefer, Matrix Magazine, “Au Pair”, Body Parts Issue #66, 2002
Nancie L. Katz, The Daily News, “Artist Revel in Frontier Space”, June 13, 2000
Gussie Fauntleroy, The Pasatiempo, “Stereotypes about Women Sculptures are Crumbling”, Oct. 1999
CAROLYN SALAS
Brooklyn, NY
EDUCATION
CUNY Hunter College, M.F.A., New York, 2005
Glasgow School of Art, Hunter College Study Abroad Program, Scotland, 2004
College of Santa Fe, B.F.A. (Honors), Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1999
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009
Babel Collections, New Outdoor Commissioned Sculptures, Art Space, New Haven, CT
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2009
Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself, Carolyn Salas and Adam Parker Smith, Gallerie Nordine Zidoun, Luxembourg
2008
Feast of Burden, Carolyn Salas and Adam Parker Smith, Silly Thing Gallery, Hong Kong
2007
Against Stone and Sea, Priska Juschka Fine Art Gallery, New York
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2011
The Unseen (forthcoming), curated by Adela Leibowitz, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, California
Everything Must Go, Organized by Jose Noe Suro and Eduardo Sarabia, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York
Al Ghaib: Aesthetics of Disappearance, curated by Gaia Serena Simionatii, Stux Gallery, New York
Purified Thoughts, curated by Jon Lutz, Rawson Projects, Brooklyn, New York
Improbable Self: Notes from the Void, curated by Fran Holstrom, Saint Cecilia’s Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
In back of the Real, International Studio & Curatorial Program, curated by Dr. Necmi Sönmez, Brooklyn, New York
2010
Physical Center, Covent of Saint Cecilia, curated by Amada Schmitt, Greenpoint, New York
See you in September, Parlour NO. 18, curated by Leslie Rosa and Ciara Gilmartin, Brooklyn, New York
Value City, Little Berlin, Philadelphia, PA
If You See Nothing, Say Something, Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, New York
Word-less, curated by Felicity Hogan, The Elizabeth Foundation, New York
Talons, Swords and Samurai: A Show of Power, Berkshire Museum, MA
2009
Trophies, Collaboration with Adam Parker Smith, Parisian Laundry, Montreal, QC
Scope Art Fair, New Commissions, Lincoln Center, New York
State of the Art: New York, Urbis City Center, Manchester, U.K.
Everybody, curated by Ryan Schneider, Envoy Gallery, New York
2008
Peekskill Project, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, New York
I Held a Jewel in My Hand and Fell Asleep, Main Site Contemporary, Oklahoma
Admirer, curated by Maureen Cavanaugh, 31 Grand Gallery, New York
Home Base Project III, curated by Anat Litwin, New York
2007
Ad Nueseam Lyceum, curated by Ryan Frank, New York
2006
Materiality, Kravets & Wheby Gallery, New York
2005
New Found Land, curated by Yaelle Amir, Priska Juschka Fine Art Gallery, New York
Red/White/Blue, Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York
Breaking Ground, The New York Horticultural Society, New York
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Hunter College, Times Square Gallery, New York
HONORS/AWARDS RECEIVED
2011
Abrons Art Center, AIRspace Residency Program, NY
The Elizabeth Foundation Studio Program/Space Award, NY
Franconia Sculpture Park Residency Program, Jerome Grant, MN
2009
Artspace, New Haven, CT
Djerrassi Artists Residency, CA
2008
Blue Mountain Center, NY
Jentel Artist Residency, WY
The Santa Fe Art Institute, NM
2007
Cha North Artist Residency, NY
2006
Chashama Studio Space Award, NY, 2006-2009
2004
Rita Glassier Scholarship, Study Abroad Program,Hunter College, NY
2000
Vermont Studio Center, (Pollack-Krasner Award), VT
LECTURES & ARTIST TALKS
Urbis City Center, Moderated by Carlos McCormick, Manchester, U.K. 2009
Artist Space, New Haven CT, 2009
Artist in Residence, MS. 137, Brooklyn, NY, 2009
Santa Fe Art Institute, NM, 2008,
Radio Television Hong Kong/Morning Brew, Hong Kong, 2008
Santa Fe Radio Café, Santa Fe, NM, 2008
Hunter College, MFA Thesis Panel, Moderator by Katy Siegel and Anthony Huberman, NY, 2005
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2011
Art Book Club Presents: Cowboy Mouth, St. Cecelia’s Convent, Greenpoint, NY
^..^ / , Casita Maria Center for the Arts and Education, Bronx, NY
COMMISSIONS
2007
Staten Island Yankee Stadium, Chashama Window Project, New York
2005
The Swiss Institute, Annual Benefit and Auction, Emerging Artist Award
APPOINTMENTS
2011
Lecturer, Professor, Yale University School of Art, New Haven, CT
2010
Assistant Professor, College of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrew Russeth, 16 mi., “In Back of the Real”: Around the International Studio & Curatorial Program, May 23, 2011,http://www.16miles.com/2011/05/in-back-of-real-in-and-around.html Manya Schep, Philadelphia Weekly, First-Friday-Picks, May 05, 2010
Diana Mellon, The New Haven Advocate, “The Lots Junkyard Art”, August 05, 2009
Allan Appel, The New Haven Independent, “A Recycled “Babel” Rises”, July 31, 2009
Register Staff, The New Haven Register, “The Lot shows just what student artists can do”, August 10, 2009
Stacey DeWolfe, Mirror Magazine-Artsweek, Montreal, “Guns n’ Antlers”, June 25- July 01, 2009
Karen Rosenberg, New York Times, “Toplessness and Taxidermy in a Bottoming Market”, March 07, 2009
Angela Kelly, Trafford Metro News, Manchester, “Big Apple Art, but Bite-sized”, April 15, 2009
Art World, “Urbis Delivers Hot Stuff From New York”, April / May. 2009
Didier Damiani, d, Land Kultur, “Corpus Christi Amen”, January 30, 2009
Laetitia Collin, La Voix, “Un Materialism Encombrant”, Jan. 2009
France Clarinval, Le Quotidien, “Drole De Communion”, Jan. 2009, www.lequotidien.lu
Creative Force, Milk Magazine, www.milk.com.hk, 2008
Radio Television Hong Kong, htt://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/morning brew, 2008
Benjamin Genocchio, The New York Times, “In Peekskill, 2 Shows of Raw Works”, 2008
Jeffrey Cyphers Wright, Chelsea Now Magazine, “Admirer” Calibrates the Edges of Accord, 2008
Santa Fe Radio Café, www.santaferadiocafe.org/podcasts, 2008
Shu Hung & Joe Magliaro, By Hand, Craft in Contemporary Art, Princeton Architectural Press, 2007
Alison B. Levy, New York Arts Magazine, “Splendor at the Market, July/Aug., 2006
Ken Johnson, The New York Times, Art Listing, “Materiality”, Aug., 2006
The New Yorker, Around Town, Art, “Natural Views”, July 2005
The Village Voice, Voice Picks, “Breaking Ground”, Horticultural Society, Aug. 2005
MFA Candidates, Hunter College Publications, “Spring Semester”, 2005
Carey Ann Schaefer, Matrix Magazine, “Au Pair”, Body Parts Issue #66, 2002
Nancie L. Katz, The Daily News, “Artist Revel in Frontier Space”, June 13, 2000
Gussie Fauntleroy, The Pasatiempo, “Stereotypes about Women Sculptures are Crumbling”, Oct. 1999
Rug Project2009
Cut and glued carpet foam padding
10ft x 8ft
Reassessing the value of common objects and questioning conventional concepts of beauty Untitled Rug Project flips the role of carpet from floor covering to fine art. Untitled Rug Project plays with the idea of construction and the historical role of the rug as design, display of wealth, and warmth. Composed not with thread but a more contemporary method of fused recycled foam carpet padding, traditional and invented carpet patterns and motifs are represented.
Rug Project (detail)
The Awarded2010
Cast marbelized resin and hydrocal
Size varies (over 200 plaques)
The wall of plaques are all anonymous, any writing, scripture or titles are absent
The Awarded (detail)
Stack of Quilts 2011Ceramic
4 at 8.5 x 24 x 20” / 21.6 x 61 x 50.8cm
The petrified quilts are a reinvention of the idea of quilt, simplified to their true essence of keepsake and shedding their house furnishing pretense while simultaneously becoming a three dimensional painting; “Stack of Quilts” becomes a mumified specimen of tradition and culture.
Stack of Quilts (detail)
Untitled2011
cast fgr, pigment, wood
73” x 54” and 57” x 46”
Untitled (detail)
Constructions and Tangible Losses2010
Horseshoe crab shell, tile, resin, wood and gold chain
Installation View
Each piece in the installation displays a loss. The dowsing rod in need of water, the netted chain without a catch, the pedestal without an object, the leg and horshoe crab without its body. By simplifying the objects the tension created lies within the absence they each represent.
Constructions and Tangible Losses(detail)
Chain Link2011
yellow zinc plated metal
50ft x 9ft
I have been investigating ideas surrounding territories, boundries, borders and class issues. For me the absurdity of handmaking a fence and its dispalcement of location is an important factor. The fencing posts and chain are platted in a gold colored metal, in attempts to objectify and beautify the mundane, whilst the object itself fails to gain the authority it desires.
Chain Link (detail)
Moon Mapping2011
Photograph, wood veneer, gold leaf and abalone shell
25” x 75”
Sundog2010
Photographs
Each at 30” x 40”
New Order2011
Cast concrete, magic sculpt
80” x 64” x 2.5”
Earring on a Mountain2010
Cement, abalone shell
80” x 64” x 2.5”
Bust2010
OSB chip board, polystyrene and resin
69” x 27” 19”
Trophy2009
Resin, taxidermy deer head, copper wire
27ft x 34ft
Serving as proof of merit in a society of bizarre values, “Trophy” sports a three-hundred point hand-made resin rack.
In collaboration with Adam Parker Smith
Babel Collections2009
Recycled and found obejects, wood, chicken wire
18ft to 22ft in height
Five totem-like structures were placed in a busy culturally diverse park located in downtown New Haven, CT. All materials were donated, sourced and recycled from the local community. The structures challenge the traditional meanings, such as community status, ritual worship, or memorialization, long associated with public art or civic monuments.
Babel Collections(detail)