Miles Smith/Effigy - Honors in Art (Printmaking)

Exhibition - January 13 - February 7

Artist Talk - Wednesday, January 22 , 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Artist Reception - Wednesday, January 22, 1:30 - 3 pm

Artist’s Statement

"The summer before switching my concentration to printmaking was punctuated with a breakup, bad decisions, and a profound loss of self-worth. Bereft of any motivation to create and unsure whether I’d chosen the right path, I feared my tenure as a fine artist would be dead on arrival. It was this same summer, fortuitously, that I had to stay on campus for summer classes, including Professor Ben Gross’ weeklong screen-printing course. As I explored the methodical process of screen printing, I began to utilize my art as a form of catharsis and self-expression in a way I never had before; by reducing my feelings of vulnerability, isolation and heartbreak to visual metaphors, I gained power back over them. Serigraphy has become the conduit for the tension I feel in my everyday life, and each print serve as an effigy of my state of mind at the time of its creation. My art grapples not only with the discomfort of melancholia, body image issues, loneliness and anger, but with themes of vulnerability, queerness and love."

This body of work explores several methods of screen printing – I utilize both CMYK And spot color processes, as well as a combination of hand-drawn and digitally produced color separations, to create a diverse range of color palettes and compositions. I also enjoy exploring the relationship between positive and negative space through the use of monotype collage under some of my screen prints.

Artist Biography

"I spent most of my childhood in central Ohio, attending high school in South Windsor, Connecticut and seeking my art degree here in Salem, Massachusetts. I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, with a passion for designing and writing original characters. Although I’ve experimented with a diverse range of media throughout my life, printmaking has stolen my heart, at least for now. My love for animation, retro video games and street art all influence my personal style, and you’ll find my artwork anywhere you see the signature 'wort'.”

image: Mile Smith, I'd Rather Be Empty