Off Main Gallery

Connie Saems - NOT KNOW: A POP-UP

Artists are supposed to be able to talk about their work – we are asked to describe, explain, and provide historical references for the art we create.  But if you were to ask me these questions, I would have to say that I just do NOT KNOW.  I have always wanted to KNOW.  I have always searched for understanding to help me KNOW.  But last year this changed.  To help me cope with NOT KNOWing, I followed a familiar path, mark making. While I did NOT KNOW what I was making, nor why, I let the marks guide me.

NOT KNOW is drawn on a 7 foot long piece of brown craft paper, initially started in 2016 at Castle Hill Art Center while attending a workshop with the artist Lesley Dill.  Each day of the workshop I would take out my stencils and write a word on it. I did NOT KNOW why I did this nor where the idea would take me.  At the end of the workshop, I rolled up the paper and it sat in my closet for 8 years.  Last year, when asked to work on one piece each day for 10 weeks, I brought out this paper.  Once again I added a word.  For those 10 weeks I went to this paper and worked, thinking about a life that had just ended.  Because thread is a material I have used in the past, I looked to it to create a feeling for many of the words.  Shoe polish, ink, acrylic paint, markers and charcoal to add significant aspects to illustrate the meaning of these words. 

At the same time, I started making marks on paper and canvas using acrylic paint and charcoal, still NOT KNOWing what these marks meant, allowing the juice of what was inside to flow.

NOT KNOW has become a metaphor for my life.  Honestly, I still like to KNOW but can be a lot more comfortable when I do NOT KNOW.   

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 2nd from 6 - 8 pm

Off Main Gallery, 75 Commercial St