SPLINTERED SELF: A Conjoined Body of Work by Amanda Dillingham & Jason Driskill, 9/25

"Splintered Self", a conjoined project developed by artist Amanda Dillingham and Jason Driskill, will be on exhibit at the Blend Studio, 79 Arcade building, downtown Nashville. The opening reception will be Saturday, September 4th from 6-9 pm during the First Saturday Gallery Crawl. In addition to the exhibit at Blend Studio, the artists are accepting photos from the public to be used in the exhibit (see below). An artist talk is planned for September 25th from 4 to 5:30pm at Blend Studio.

The artwork in "Splintered Self" includes drawings, animations and digital collages, each piece referencing physical or psychical fragmentations of identity. Palettes include pinks, blues and flesh tones that reference the body and engenderment. Surfaces, whether literal or implied, have been treated to suggest tactility. Many of these works serve as self-portraits as they feature, respectively, each artist or fragments of each artist in the image.

COLLABORATE WITH US!
We are inviting the public to submit jpg images by email of their faces for a collaborative video piece to be featured in Splintered Self. Please email images to splinteredselfartshow@gmail.com. Now accepting faces!

ARTIST STATEMENT
Amanda Dillingham and Jason Driskill have teamed up to create "Splintered Self," a collection of new work that stems from their shared conceptual and aesthetic interests in gender and the body.

Jason: In addition to self-representation, earthworms and starfish appear as a theme in this body of work.

Amanda: Specifically an earthworm's facility to regenerate lost segments. A starfish that loses a ray can eventually grow a whole new one.

Jason: Instead of a negative association from the amputation and disconnection, we're referencing these creatures' ability to regenerate.

Amanda: For these species there is a literal breaking of body. Our exploration - while metaphorical - still focuses on ideas of the body. Like the disconnect between my body and my perception of my body.

Jason: Or how the notion of ‘self' supersedes our physical being, and is in a constant state of change. Sometimes these changes incur a complete, almost traumatic upheaval in our self-perception. Like puberty. Or midlife crises.

Amanda: How do we function through these fragmentations of self?

Jason: How many times in the course of one's life does he or she recreate himself or herself?

Amanda: Or himself as herself?

Jason: Exactly. But probably just once for that one.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://blendstudio.wordpress.com/splintered-self

ABOUT BLEND STUDIO
Blend Studio is located on the second floor of the historic Arcade building and in the heart of the gallery district in downtown Nashville. Blend Studio offers a diverse range of contemporary art and unique opportunities for artists to merge with the community. Blend Studio features engaging and informative community-based art projects created through partnerships between artists and the community. These collaborative experiences develop dialog, awareness and growth for local and global communities.

Regular Hours: Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 11am-3pm; First Saturday Gallery Crawl 6-9pm; & by appointment

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