untitled, ink jet print on aluminum

The title of the work is taken from a line in the poem “Hamatreya” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which questions man’s desire to claim ownership of the land that is inherently owned by nature. In the poem, the Earth responds, “How am I theirs, / If they cannot hold me, / But I hold them?”

"They call me theirs" includes sculpture, sound, video and ink jet prints mounted on aluminum

The digital seascapes of 'Now for the Painter' are a tribute to Turner’s last seascapes. The project title is from R.J.W. Turner’s piece Now for the Painter, (Rope) Passengers Going on Board (Pas-de-Calais), 1827. The reference to a painter was Turner’s homage to the Dutch painter Aelbert Cuyp. I have been intrigued both by Turner’s skill with the brush, and by his interest in technology. I couldn’t help but contemplate his likely interest in digital media if he was practicing today. My admiration for Turner’s paintings, a passion for kayaking, and the beauty of a near by lake, were the inspiration for the video seascapes.

'Now for the painter' was designed with a few simple guidelines. The original footage would be manipulated with as few interventions as possible: time, chroma, and focus. There would be no sound. The “ships” would be made from crumpled pages torn from Art Forum. Light and color would be captured over multiple seasons and different times of the day.

My vision of the installation is 4 separate projections, each projection approximating the average size of Turner’s paintings 36” X 48”. The piece has also been exhibited on large monitors.

Curatorial Projects

Director of LiveBox Gallery and independent curator. LiveBox is a non-for-profit gallery focused on video and new media arts. LiveBox is a roving gallery, deploying Chicago's neighborhoods as exhibition sites and screening opportunities.

For more information: www.liveboxgallery.com

Now For The Painter - Autumn Afternoon

'Now for the Painter'
4 video loops, 2008/9

'Late Autumn Afternoon Drift'
5:00 loop, 2008
'At Anchor Near Shore, Spring Morning'
2:27 min loop, 2009
'Sunset Sail on the Summer Solstice'
11:25 min loop, 2009
'Dawn Outing Early Summer'
4:42 min loop, 2009

Sample videos can be viewed on my website
www.catforster.com



They Call Me Theirs will be on view from August 3 to October 5, 2008 at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60615; 773.324.5520 and www.hydeparkart.org. Exhibitions are always free and open to the public.