News
Making art is expensive, but it can be cheaper than therapy. In Artist: Unemployed conceptual artist Shawnee Barton uses humor, humility, and her art practice to cope with being unemployed during the worst economic downturn our country has seen in sixty years.
In this installation at LivingRoom Gallery, the artist address subjects related to her inability to get a job including daytime television, arts policy, and her ongoing existential crisis.
Artist: Unemployed opens November 20, 2009 at LivingRoom Gallery
Reception is Friday, November 20, 2009 from 5-8 pm
LivingRoom Gallery
1530 West Superior Street (between Ashland Ave. and Armour St.)
Chicago IL 60642
Making art is expensive, but it can be cheaper than therapy. In Artist: Unemployed conceptual artist Shawnee Barton uses humor, humility, and her art practice to cope with being unemployed during the worst economic downturn our country has seen in sixty years.
In this installation at LivingRoom Gallery, the artist address subjects related to her inability to get a job including daytime television, arts policy, and her ongoing existential crisis.
Artist: Unemployed opens November 20, 2009 at LivingRoom Gallery
Reception is Friday, November 20, 2009 from 5-8 pm
LivingRoom Gallery
1530 West Superior Street (between Ashland Ave. and Armour St.)
Chicago IL 60642
Artist's Statement
Many Americans place importance on introspection, self-revelation, and creating a self-image to portray to the world. Our enthusiasm for therapists, talk shows, and emotion-regulating medications are all examples of individuals trying to better understand and live with themselves and others.
My work is a manifestation of my own complex relationship with introspection, and the creation of a personal identity. While openly trying to better understand my world, I also use satire to explore sociological concerns such as dislocation, relationship and group dynamics, class issues, and the ways in which we make connections and communicate with each other.
Bio
Shawnee is a Texas born interdisciplinary artist currently living in San Diego. She is also an arts educator, administrator and advocate. She received her BFA in Sculpture and graduated with departmental distinction from Southern Methodist University. She participated in the Independent Studio Programme at Slade School of Art in London, and completed her MFA in Printmedia at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago where she was a Trustee Scholar. Shawnee has taught courses in both the Photography and Printmedia departments at SAIC. She has worked as an arts administrator for The Illinois Arts Council, The Palo Alto Arts Center, and and New Langton Arts in San Francisco. During this past presidential election, Shawnee served on Barack Obama's National Arts Policy Committee.
When she's not making art, Shawnee is most likely playing poker. She finished second in the 2006 World Series of Poker No Limit Hold'em Ladies event, but these days pot limit Omaha is her game.
Many Americans place importance on introspection, self-revelation, and creating a self-image to portray to the world. Our enthusiasm for therapists, talk shows, and emotion-regulating medications are all examples of individuals trying to better understand and live with themselves and others.
My work is a manifestation of my own complex relationship with introspection, and the creation of a personal identity. While openly trying to better understand my world, I also use satire to explore sociological concerns such as dislocation, relationship and group dynamics, class issues, and the ways in which we make connections and communicate with each other.
Bio
Shawnee is a Texas born interdisciplinary artist currently living in San Diego. She is also an arts educator, administrator and advocate. She received her BFA in Sculpture and graduated with departmental distinction from Southern Methodist University. She participated in the Independent Studio Programme at Slade School of Art in London, and completed her MFA in Printmedia at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago where she was a Trustee Scholar. Shawnee has taught courses in both the Photography and Printmedia departments at SAIC. She has worked as an arts administrator for The Illinois Arts Council, The Palo Alto Arts Center, and and New Langton Arts in San Francisco. During this past presidential election, Shawnee served on Barack Obama's National Arts Policy Committee.
When she's not making art, Shawnee is most likely playing poker. She finished second in the 2006 World Series of Poker No Limit Hold'em Ladies event, but these days pot limit Omaha is her game.
