Exhibition "Unveiling Secrets" Opening Reception

Unveiling Secrets, March 29 - April 30, 2010


My Daddy helping me install. :0)

These pictures are from the opening reception of my BFA Thesis show at Pratt Institute. This experience had me on an emotional high for over a week. The greatest part about having a show is having my family and friends see all of my hard work; my parents were definitely proud. It's fun to see those who have journeyed with me through out this series come and see the results. I definitely got to see my own work differently hung together on a clean white wall, in a large gallery with open space. As an artist who is used to working in a small studio, it was wonderfully overwhelming to me to see my work on together on the wall. Not only was I able to see my work differently, but I was able read my work differently.

Someone at the opening asked me, which piece is my favorite, and my answer to them was, I don't have one. Each painting reflects a certain part of my journey that is apart of me. Each painting is a memory of a true experience or desire. The funnest part about the exhibition was being able to interact with my viewers and question their thoughts about my work.

If I could do one thing differently at the opening, it would be to take more pictures, lol, but here you go. ENJOY!

**Click on image to enlarge


(left to right) My Mother, Me, and my Cousin Alexis






My roommates and I



Painter Jordan Cooper and Me


My painting teacher, Peggy Cyphers, and I are examining my latest painting Secret Garden



(from left to right) Painter Anthony Morton, Peggy Cyphers, and Me

www.clarissahorton.com

Thesis Exhibition: "Unveiling Secrets", Installation

Unveiling Secrets, March 29 - April 3, 2010

This thesis exhibition experience was an amazing one. I learned so much about my self as an artist, and psychologically on the issue of love. How I feel about love really spoke to me from seeing my paintings all hung together in the gallery. Seeing my big paintings, Secret Garden and Caught, in the gallery amazed me on how much life large paintings can bring to a series, and can affect the gallery in a beautiful way. I got a lot of great responses from my peers, teachers, and guest about the series. Three things that they all love is how I use color, the imagery I express in each painting, and the energy that I bring with each brush stroke.

Another thing others admire is my fearlessness to be transparent and expose my inner self for the world to see. This can be a very vulnerable place for many, but for me it gives me the strength to share my feelings with absolute power and control. Their inspiration from observing my work has inspired me as an artist. I have been debating as to whether or not to do more paintings for this series. I will because a few of my trusted peers and teachers say that I should push these ideas further, and I agree.

***Click on picture for a zoomed in image***






Secret Garden, Oil on Canvas, 2010
Pratt Student, Friend, Model James Ward beside painting


Current late painting of series



Please be Delicate, Oil on Canvas, 2010





Caught, Oil on Canvas, 2010




Senior Fine Arts painting professor Greg Drasler sharing his positive thoughts with me about his perspective on the series and my growth.




www.clarissahorton.com