work for a show in November of 2008 at Latitude 53 Gallery in Edmonton.These paintings came about earlier this year when I was reading novels and watching films that ended up all having a coming of age theme or focus and at the same time when a friend had asked me when the first time was that I knew I was different. What struck me in many of the stories was the main character often appearing normal or what is considered normal in North America, but either feeling separate internally or being externally told they are different. This also related to my answer to my friend’s question. I was in Pre School and some boy made a comment about me playing with girls letting me know I was unlike him. During this time I began painting small watercolours of children that became more and more awkward in appearance.
These watercolours led to a shift in my visual vocabulary that I translated to larger oil paintings and the works presented here. This new direction strengthened the expression of awkwardness and the feeling of not fitting in of each portrait.
I found when the characters were verbally attacked or being ostracized in these novels and films to be very telling of how a lot of difference doesn’t really exist until someone outside of it gives it a name. I have brought this idea to the titles of the works; the title becomes someone else’s voice telling the subject they are separate. Other titles are the subject’s internal dialogue when they already know or suspect their difference.
My hope is to have the viewer to feel or see the awkwardness and isolation in the individuals I have created.
