Installation by Clint Bearden featured at Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

Installation by Clint Bearden featured at Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

November 11, 2012 – March 31, 2013

 

An installation by Atlanta-based artist, Clint Bearden, will be featured in The South’s Next Wave exhibition at The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).

 

The South’s Next Wave: Design Challenge has paired designers of interior spaces with object designers who together will create vignettes throughout the museum.

 

Clint Bearden is creating a 9’ x 6’ installation inspired by the contemporary, polished metal vessels and jewelry of Susan Coddon.  The assemblage will be a theatrical set of reclaimed wood and transparent images, conveying mythic stories of alchemy and the quest for gold.

 

 

Tuesday, September 18th Assemblage Artist, Clint Bearden, was interviewed by Gail O'Neil at the Museum of Design Atlanta (museumofdesign.org) for the upcoming Next Wave exhibition scheduled for November 11, 2012. Clint told his story and the story of his upcoming project of art entitled "Alchemic Vision", he and project partner, Susan Coddon, created. The video team was enamored with Clint's detailed, intricate and very passionate depiction of his work, partnership with Susan, sharing of what stimulated him from childhood to become an artist, and the easy going candor displayed while being interviewed on camera. Telling stories using reclaimed wood, found objects, and layers of transparent imagery is the artistry which helps to partially define this amazing and talented artist, Clint Bearden (Above Clint is with Bobby Berk, Bill Kaelin and Marcus Jackson).

 

Tree of Knowledge

60" x 60"  acrylic on transparent acrylic panel over an assemblage of reclaimed wood, found objects, and glass laboratory slides

detail

 

I am exploring mythic archetypes. For instance, this piece explores the metaphor of the tree that appears in creation myths.

The tree of knowledge or the tree of life ---a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life and knowledge on earth is related---has been used in science, religion, and, mythology.

This motif appears in the mythologies of the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Judeo-Christian, Celtic, Hindu, and Tao traditions.

In mythic traditions the tree of knowledge symbolizes the idea of dualism.  The idea that reality requires there to be dark in order to experience light, hot requires cold, good/bad, etc.    The ultimate duality is that death necessarily accompanies life. 

For me the experience of this reality came at an early age with the loss of my sister.   This work is about finding acceptance of this dualism as a natural part of life.

Installation in Manhattan Apartment

Gabrielle C.     acrylic on transparent acrylic panel over assemblage of reclaimed wood, found objects, silk thread.

 

 

Commission: The Construct of Time

Acrylic on acrylic panel. Assemblage of reclaimed wood and found objects. by Clint Bearden

"We construct an idea of Time as a mechanism by which we order our lives-- grasping for certainty in the idea of Time as a constant. Eventually, we face the truth that Time is, in fact, a series of precious, fleeting moments." - clint

Suite in G major

While creating the assemblage composition, I listened only to Bach’s Suite in G major.  My goal was not to interpret the piece of music, but to see how music might subtly organize the work.

Suite in G Major   30” x 60”
Photos on layers of transparent acrylic panels.  Assemblage of reclaimed wood and found objects.

Commissioned by Ritz-Carlton | Atlanta

I am excited about this new commission for the renovated lobby of the Ritz-Carlton | Atlanta.
The hotel is undergoing a renovation by The Johnson Studio (design firm). The new design is about "elegance and a contemporary use of traditional lines"  (see image below)

Design story: The Ritz-Carlton had a collection of oil paintings depicting ladies from the 18th century. The designer collected these from all over the hotel and installed them salon style in one room off the lobby... against flat black paneled walls. It looks great.


They have asked me to create a contemporary piece (consistent with my new work) , inspired by the ladies in these portraits. The designer pointed to the mood and palette of a mixed media piece I did a couple years ago, Icon. (see image below)  She asked if I would be willing to revisit this imagery combined with the assemblage work in my recent pieces (see image below).  

I think this could be interesting.  The piece is due in four weeks.
So, I plan to chronicle my process with this piece here on my blog...stay tuned.

Ritz-Carlton | Atlanta

Icon, 2009

Infanta, 2011