I just finished a huge re do of my website! Will keep the blog running but I have a new website with more organized gallery pages coming up soon. :) The pages now are pretty outdated.
In the meantime, RAW WORKS ||| was an amazing time, and the magazine I'm working on, Pulp Mag, is coming along great. Just handed in my request for graduation, and life is good.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
RAW WORKS 3
Curated and put together by
Dena Lazarenko and Bullys Studios
Featuring artwork by:
Dena Lazarenko
Aaron Davidson
Leanne Carmichael
Gordie Scott
John Sayer
Jason Spencer
Ryanne Easley
Jordan Holms
Mat Vass
Mike Hannay
Taylor Ferguson
Severn Bowen
Shane Hunt
Chelsea Lawrick
Andres SalaZ
Francesca Andreis
Sean Clarke
Musical entertainment featuring
Adam Grant & Tyler Maynard
Evan Joel & Mat Vass
Johnny
Andrew Carey & Sean Clarke
$5 at the door
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
If You Make Art in A Forest..
This post is long over due, but better late than never! November 26 marked the one night only event that was If You Make Art in a Forest.. put on by NoMass Gallery at 196 Kingsway. Here are some images I took with my iphone of my pieces in the show, accompanied by artist statements and a video put together by MGA|MTK. I was especially excited about showing Trophies as it was my newest wallpaper piece and it was making it's "debut appearance" (haha)
I've shared two of these before but with the addition of the new one and the small prints, I've included all the artist statements near the bottom of the post to tie the ideas of the wallpaper series together.
I've shared two of these before but with the addition of the new one and the small prints, I've included all the artist statements near the bottom of the post to tie the ideas of the wallpaper series together.
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| Trophies Chelsea Lawrick 5ft x 5ft Digital print on paper wood frame |
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| 17"x22" silkscreen prints I made for the show of Trophies and Romantic Wallpaper |
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| 6 and Counting Chelsea Lawrick 8.5 ft X 6 ft silkscreen on paper found chair |
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| Romantic Wallpaper Chelsea Lawrick 6.5ft x 5ft silkscreen on paper wood frame |
If You Make Art in a Forest… Statement
Wallpaper to me is something that people, upon entering a room, would not initially notice. Wallpaper is often decorative and a mere feature of the room, not to be paid attention to the same way a framed photograph or painting is on display to be gazed at. This idea is integral to the way my three works in If You Make Art In A Forest… are interpreted. Within the wallpaper are images that are confronting issues (with regards to Romantic Wallpaper and 6 and Counting) and observations (Trophies) about ourselves and society that normally go unnoticed.
I call upon the viewer to take into consideration the way they themselves fit into my works and where their position in these issues and observations lie. The works exist in their entirety to create the moment of self reflection between the viewer and the works in regards to the subject matter the works deal with individually.
Artist Statement for Trophies
Trophies explores the relationship that exists between humans and animals. I am interested in the way we consider ourselves, as humans, so far removed from our primal instincts that we are no longer animals in our own minds. I am intrigued by the notion that although we may separate ourselves from the primal natures of animals, unknowingly people are participating in the very primal notions they dismiss.
My comparison in this wallpaper is between the obvious dead bird: the trophy of the kill that the housecat would bring in to show their ‘owner’, contrasted with the hidden taxidermy deer heads: the remnants of the kill a human would bring home to proudly display. We are not as different from animals as we think.
This wallpaper was constructed entirely of animal parts – in addition to the bird and deer, the rest of the pattern is made from photographs of a horse spine.
Trophies explores the relationship that exists between humans and animals. I am interested in the way we consider ourselves, as humans, so far removed from our primal instincts that we are no longer animals in our own minds. I am intrigued by the notion that although we may separate ourselves from the primal natures of animals, unknowingly people are participating in the very primal notions they dismiss.
My comparison in this wallpaper is between the obvious dead bird: the trophy of the kill that the housecat would bring in to show their ‘owner’, contrasted with the hidden taxidermy deer heads: the remnants of the kill a human would bring home to proudly display. We are not as different from animals as we think.
This wallpaper was constructed entirely of animal parts – in addition to the bird and deer, the rest of the pattern is made from photographs of a horse spine.
Artist Statement for 6 and Counting
In this wallpaper, I have used the faces of 6 of the young men who were highly publicized in the media for committing suicide in the US during the month of September 2010 (amongst others, and certainly amongst many outside of this month) for being victims of homophobic bullying. The chair has dual purpose: the idea is that a person could sit in the chair, and once sitting, is facing away from the wallpaper (away from the young men whose victimization was ignored). It could also put someone in the empty spaces in the wallpaper, as in they too are victimized. When the chair is empty, however, it can speak to the loss we have experienced of these young men due to senseless, ignorant bullying.
Artist Statement for Romantic Wallpaper
I created this wallpaper as a response to a type of homophobia that is not as blatant as the sorts that are publicized in the newspapers and the like – a kind of homophobia where people barely recognize that they are homophobic.
I believe that many people can recognize the steps we are slowly taking towards a much needed social revolution, and that to be told they are working against it (to be called homophobic) is a quality that no longer possesses any respectful attributes.
In other words, a sort of silent homophobia has been born. I’ve heard many people talk about the LGBT community and say something along the lines of “I don’t care what they do, just don’t do it in front of me.” To me, this aligns with the notion of “if I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist.” These are very often the same people who claim they are accepting of everyone and certainly not homophobic, yet cringe when a gay couple kisses on television.
Placing images of gay couples kissing within the framework of a familiar wallpaper pattern – which could almost make the images blend into the wallpaper – was done as a response to that silent homophobia. The idea is that people can sit in front of the wallpaper and go on with their lives as though something that bothers them doesn’t exist.
I created this wallpaper as a response to a type of homophobia that is not as blatant as the sorts that are publicized in the newspapers and the like – a kind of homophobia where people barely recognize that they are homophobic.
I believe that many people can recognize the steps we are slowly taking towards a much needed social revolution, and that to be told they are working against it (to be called homophobic) is a quality that no longer possesses any respectful attributes.
In other words, a sort of silent homophobia has been born. I’ve heard many people talk about the LGBT community and say something along the lines of “I don’t care what they do, just don’t do it in front of me.” To me, this aligns with the notion of “if I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist.” These are very often the same people who claim they are accepting of everyone and certainly not homophobic, yet cringe when a gay couple kisses on television.
Placing images of gay couples kissing within the framework of a familiar wallpaper pattern – which could almost make the images blend into the wallpaper – was done as a response to that silent homophobia. The idea is that people can sit in front of the wallpaper and go on with their lives as though something that bothers them doesn’t exist.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Trophies
They are iphone photos but I am eager to share these! I will be replacing them with better photographs soon.
To make a long statement short, I am using painting to point out similarities between animal and human behaviours. In particular, those of collecting, hunting and the pride associated with each. Regardless of how far removed we believe we are from our primal instincts, humans are still animals, and still act like animals no matter how far away from these instincts we consider ourselves to be in the name of a civilized society. (and hey, that's okay)
To make a long statement short, I am using painting to point out similarities between animal and human behaviours. In particular, those of collecting, hunting and the pride associated with each. Regardless of how far removed we believe we are from our primal instincts, humans are still animals, and still act like animals no matter how far away from these instincts we consider ourselves to be in the name of a civilized society. (and hey, that's okay)
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Chelsea Lawrick Collecting Mice 30" X 48" oil & spraypaint on wood |
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Chelsea Lawrick Look What the Cat Dragged In ~30" X 52" oil on wood, with spray paint on the wall behind |
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Chelsea Lawrick Deer Trophy 2 30" X 48" oil on wood |
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Chelsea Lawrick There's an Animal on my Wall oil on canvas |
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Chelsea Lawrick Look What Father Brought Home 48" X 60" oil on canvas |
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Chelsea Lawrick Untitled (for now) 48" X 60" oil on canvas |
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Victim
In these two images I have digitally layered photographs of the twenty-six women Robert William “Willie” Pickton is being accused of (already charged for, in some cases) murdering. In Victim 1, I have created one face – a face of a woman who has never and will never exist. I am interested in the effects mass dissemination has on the meaning of an image. The work is meant to comment on and critique the over use of images, the notion of the icon, and the loss of meaning and identity through this mass dissemination of their images in groups (illustrated by Victim 2).
The identity of the actual women who were murdered has been lost, and instead their images have become a stand in for the murders themselves and for William Pickton. When we as viewers see their faces we probably think of Pickton before we think of who these women actually were as individuals. In the media, they are no longer their own person but rather a collective Victim, almost a Jane Doe.
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Victim 1 Chelsea Lawrick Digital Print |
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Victim 2 (Missing) Chelsea Lawrick Digital Print |
Saturday, November 19, 2011
INVITE: If You Make Art In A Forest...
Opening night schedule:
4pm. Opening Reception
5pm. Artist Talk: Michael Nicoll Yahgulaanas
6pm. Dance: Kirsten Wicklund
7pm. DJ: Thomas Maxey
Contributive Admission is $5 and includes a drink :)
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Big Little Art Show
Upcoming show and sale at Kwantlen University Surrey Campus that I helped organize. Check it out if you're around next week!
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