21st Century Revival- BA/BS Senior Show

Author/Artist Name

Kirsten MooreFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Fall 11-19-2021

Artist Statement

Growing up in Kentucky, I had no choice but to acknowledge that I was smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt, where culture is in many ways defined by Christianity and there is a church on every corner. These deep southern and Christian roots have defined who I am and how I view the world, inspiring me to examine the roles these two factors play in my life as well as the lives of others through my art. 21st Century Revival takes a dive into this specific culture, questioning how southern Christianity has impacted the lives of those who have come into contact with it in both positive and negative ways. These pieces envelop a positive sense of community, inspired by communal activities like quilting or sitting together at church, while still addressing the negative ostracization that can come from being a part of this culture, much like being “stoned” for being who you are.

The space created in this body of work is one of contemplation and remedy; challenging Christian culture to acknowledge the power it has over the south as well as allowing those who have experienced religious trauma to feel validated, seen, and to potentially heal from the hurt. Tying into these ideas, my work often includes a blend of religious iconography and quilt patterns, taking inspiration from both Biblical stories and the quilts my family had growing up, which are very much a part of Kentucky culture.

My art combines expressive oil painting with mixed media elements, be it sculpture or fabric. I often use photoshop and collage elements in order to combine my realistic figures with a layered and abstracted environment. This surrealistic approach, together with the blend of naturalistic color and the bright, saturated color in the quilt elements, creates a heightened emotional zone. The installation itself references structures found in places of worship, inviting the viewer to sit down on a surface that has the capacity to either instill peacefulness or cause confrontation and discomfort while reflecting on the painted imagery.

I am drawn to the works of Kehinde Wiley, especially his Stained Glass series. Though his work isn’t about Christianity specifically, it still uses the detailed and ornate style of traditional religious paintings while still incorporating modern people and elements of design; a perfect visual conversation between old and new, figurative and abstract. The story quilts of Faith Ringgold also serve as a source of inspiration. The abstracted figures encapsulated in a quilted border maintain a patch-work aesthetic, playing with color, pattern, and flatness while telling difficult stories. I often combine the painterly qualities of Kehinde Wiley and the flattened, fabric-like elements of Faith Ringgold in order to create an other-wordly environment for my figures and stories to live in. I also play a unique role in this story of southern-Christain culture, where I am still exploring who I am and where I stand on such matters. To be a Christian while advocating for reform and recognition toys with the very core of my identity, pushing against the structure of the very thing I have devoted my life to while still loving it wholeheartedly.

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Rebecca Williams

Description

21st Century Revival takes a dive into Southern and Christian culture, questioning how they both impacted the lives of those who have come into contact with it in both positive and negative ways. These pieces envelop a positive sense of community, inspired by communal activities like quilting or sitting together at church, demonstrated by Backrow Baptist, while still addressing the negative ostracization that can come from being a part of this culture, much like being “stoned” for being who you are, as seen in Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner.

My art combines expressive oil painting with mixed media elements, be it sculpture or fabric. I often use photoshop and collage elements in order to combine my realistic figures with a layered and abstracted environment. This surrealistic approach, together with the blend of naturalistic color and the bright, saturated color in the quilt elements, creates a heightened emotional zone. The installation, Backrow Baptist, references structures found in places of worship, inviting the viewer to sit down on a surface that has the capacity to either instill peacefulness or cause confrontation and discomfort while reflecting on the painted imagery.

Photo Credit

Photos #13, #14, and #15 by S. Moore. All others by Kirsten Moore.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Moore, Kirsten, "21st Century Revival- BA/BS Senior Show" (2021). B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499). 52.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art499/52