First Advisor

Susan Harlan

Term of Graduation

Spring 1996

Date of Publication

5-22-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Painting

Department

Art

Language

English

Subjects

Painting, Feminism and art

DOI

10.15760/etd.7131

Physical Description

1 online resource (24 pages)

Abstract

The discussion and illustration of how paintings function as thresholds is examined in the thesis report and the thesis exhibition, Threshold implies the passage of how an artist approaches the processes of seeing. The painting is the entry point, a place of connection of artist and viewer, a record of human experience transforming individual, interdependent and universal knowledge. Issues of the human body's relationship to vessels, and the metaphor that is integrated in relationship of space and proximity is explored. The significance of symbols and signs and the interplay of historical and personal imagery are examined through the precepts of Feminist Theory. The historical influences are paleolithic and are cross referenced from Japan to India. Other direct influences of the fertility form of the pelvic region of the female frame represents the abstracted appearance, signifying the human body's ability to possess and regenerate its essence. The work and its discussion of this symbol reflect specifically the use of the vessel form synthesizing the anatomical reference of uterus, the regenerative region of the female body. The uterus as symbol is to imply a conscious internal (and external) perception that is relative to ideas of human containn1ent. The paintings are concerned with utility bottles transforming a sense of transition metaphorically from earth to air, opaque to transparent. The object of painting as a threshold for visceral knowledge and an opportunity for the knowledge is explored through the proximity of objects. Usage of materials creates a personal dialogue. Merging specific experiences into visual documents, the content and the symbols create parallels of the vessel to the body as forms that hold. The realization that the distance of objects establishing their relationship, and the philosophical importance of the vessels and the bodys void are symbolically represented in both the written word and the painted image.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to pdxscholar@pdx.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/30487

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