Date of Award
5-2003
Culminating Project Type
Creative Work
College
College of Liberal Arts
Second Advisor
Ted Sherarts
Keywords and Subject Headings
The visual effects of light and shadow
Abstract
Art provides a forum for the subconscious mind to express emotions that the conscious mind either cannot, will not, or is afraid to express. It is in absolute freedom of expression that the true beauty of art lies.
The healing ability of art is undeniable. At builds self-confidence and self-esteem through the structured use of techniques and concepts, culminating in small successes, each building upon the previous. It is through this process of confidence and esteem building that self-disclosure takes place. Once an individual has committed to disclosing himself or herself, the door is opened for compassion and a greater ability to internalize the true emotional quality and individuality that art allows.
Working for the past eight years in both a juvenile institution and a maximum-security prison has had a profound effect upon my ideology and my work. The prison environment reflects a sharp dichotomy between the outside world and the inside world. Hope and a positive attitude are rare commodities inside the prison. If left unguided, inmate work depicts a dark and terrible life where guns, murder, and criminal activities are the norm. By using basic theories that permit prison students to be constructive rather than destructive, and by stressing the emotional aspects of art, I have personally seen a very positive change in my students' attitudes towards both their work and their lives.
I try to create an atmosphere where students feel liberated, both in their freedom to express themselves and in their freedom from persecution by others. However, that liberation is only possible through sincere attempts by students to divulge their inner feelings and emotions artistically. Once they do so, a transformation occurs that affects not only studio work but, holistically, -the individuals as well. The way these students walk and talk-even their personal hygiene-are indications of some fundamental aspects of human nature like pride and self-worth, which art can restore and augment.
The work in my M.A. exhibition displays my personal growth over the past eighteen months. As I develop as an artist, I am constantly striving to make my next piece an improvement upon the previous piece. I am constantly searching for new ways to interpret the world and convey my perspective through art. The most important thing I have learned is to never take even a single day for granted, to slow down and see beauty in the simplest of things: a sun-filled room, the rain as it displaces the water of a puddle, the laughter of a child. The beauty of life surrounds us every day, and we should cherish every unique experience. If you do not believe me, try a life without freedom, surrounded by cement walls, where even simple beauty can be difficult to find and where sometimes all you can rely on is what you create: self-understanding, self-confidence, and hope.
Recommended Citation
Lambrecht, Michael James, ""The Inclusion of Light"" (2003). Culminating Projects in Art. 3.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/art_etds/3
