May 27 - June 24, 2023
Artist Statement: What connects us to the earth, to each other, to ourselves? Are these connections, these filaments, being strengthened or are they slowly being severed? These works, each a distinct form of drawing, are an attempt to restore and strengthen my ties to the land, to my community, and to my own sense of self.
Drawn in is a performance piece and drawing exhibition, originally shown at the Works in 2019, that explores the process of uncovering, layer by layer, the invisible code that I live by. Sitting on the sturdy foundation of a handmade shaving horse, I use a drawknife to shave thin layers of wood and then use a pen to sketch on each shaving a record of what I have discovered in that layer. The shavings pile up, covered in drawings, in clues, in understanding. The acts of carving and drawing complete different components of the same meditative process: relaxing into the present moment and facing the struggles that arise.
Tree Portraits were originally a collection of 100 ink drawings of front lawn trees in my neighborhood of Ottewell. I drew each tree on location, which meant hours spent every week exposed to heat, wind, and cold, and frequently approached by suspicious, confused, or curious neighbors. It was an opportunity to mindfully observe and fully experience both the trees and the neighborhood that has grown up around them. The drawings were then exhibited on my front lawn in the fall of 2020, after many months of isolation brought about by Covid-19. I invited neighbors to gather, to experience my mindful observations, and to share their stories about the trees and the neighborhood.
stephmedford.com/treeportraits