Dayton Garrett

My sustained investigation is inspired by the Japanese children’s story of Momotaro, a boy born from a peach and found by an elderly couple who considered the boy a gift from the gods. Momotaro fights the Onis who plunder Momotaro’s village. He joins ranks with a monkey, a dog, and a pheasant to conquer the Onis and return home as heroes. In my art, I retell the tale of Momotaro from an environmental perspective: Momotaro and friends battle against the evil Oni polluters/habitat destroyers. This idea stems from my commitment to the environment, and Momotaro resembles me.

Using pencil, marker, and ink, I create a visually dynamic collection thematically linked by Momotaro’s story and purposeful in its environmental message. My influences of Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Ukiyo-e painter), Takehiko Inoue (manga artist), and Guy Billout (French surrealist) are evident in the Ukiyo-e style of Clean-Up Day and Momotaro's Birth and the comic-style of Peachy Warning Signs and Clean-up Time. In my PER, I vary character designs, colors, and symbolic elements, while keeping a consistent atmosphere. I want to experiment with more abstract imagery using watercolor and gouache. Also, adding “green” materials to my art will strengthen my inquiry.