Exhibition Statement

Exhibition Statement

Introduction.

The fear of not hearing their voice again, hugging them for just one last second, memorizing their scent, the way their heartbeat sounds. I’ve done this more times than I can count when saying goodbye to my father as he leaves for one of his numerous deployments. Being a part of the greatest defense system in the entire world is an honor and a privilege. Because of this unconventional life, sadly there are stories that deserve attention and go unnoticed. Art has such an impact on my life, it has healed so much pain and offered me an escape from the stress of this life. So through collage art, this project has represented three stories of the military: the servicemen's perspective, the loss of a soldier, and a personal story as a military child. Art therapy is a therapeutic treatment that incorporates the process of the client creating or selecting images, reflecting on the art, and interacting with a trained professional for assessment, communication, stress reduction, and intervention. Collage art is a form of expression that allows the artist to have complete artistic freedom and limitless opportunity to explore their ideas, and invites its views to make their own interpretations.

Literature Review. 

This project aims to bring light to the effects of PTSD and anxiety that can be caused by service in the military. Many service men and women are not finished their battle when they return home, there are mental health difficulties that come with the trauma of deployment. The art process, the art product, and reflection on both are used to identify inner and outer attitudes, behaviors, dreams, experiences, feelings, and thoughts. It is often the treatment of choice for the young, the old, and all those in between who are unable to put their inner feelings in words. (Arrington, 2001) The focus on collage art and its therapeutic benefits, is a large part of this capstone project. Learning about where collage art came from and what assistance it brings to the therapy world is fascinating. College art is a task of cutting and pasting existing images from mass media like magazines, and various industrial media. This work can deepen the understanding and insight of oneself. The process of selecting a favorite image from a magazine is likely to be an expression of self-emotion and to facilitate spontaneity, self-expression, and self-opening. (Wang, 2018) The biggest inspiration for this project is Jesse Treece, a Seattle, Washington-based collage artist. His writing embodies his straightforward yet nuanced perspective on the mundane, which captivates and enthralls. His collages are constructed with cutters, glue, and old magazines and books, thus they are pretty conventional. (Feb 14 Jesse Treece, 2017)

Methods.

Within my capstone, collage and mixed media pieces will be the main focus and inspiration. There is a therapeutic aspect behind the pieces, where the personal story is told, a parent’s story, and a passed loved one’s story. After researching the history behind collage art and how it is used in creating free expression, it became the inspiration to dedicate more practice to the art style. 

Audience and Impact. 

The audience of this project is not limited to a certain group of people. The goal is to have no judgment from my audience. By having a personal story be the main focus of the project, there is risk associated with people not connecting or relating. Not everyone will be able to relate to my stories, but regardless they will be able to feel the emotion of my pieces. If my project is successful, my audience will draw inspiration from the way the art depicts overcoming boundaries. I want my work to bring awareness to the life that thousands of people have to live, that often goes unnoticed. 

Acknowledgements.

I would like to pay tribute to LCDR Michael D. Chalfant Jr. who inspired this project. Michael served with my father while flying S-3 during their time as Naval Flight Officers. We tragically lost Michael during his service. Michael was a wonderful father and husband. He always put his family first. He was very funny and always pulling pranks that kept us laughing. He is dearly missed by all who knew him. In this project, I want to remember Michael’s legacy and sacrifice. I would like to thank his wife Francie Chalfant-King for allowing me to dedicate this project to Michael. Finally, to thank my family. My mother and brother, the strongest people I know. My father for his service. I admire his continued dedication to this country, I am blessed to be his daughter. I would like to acknowledge Heather Bremenstuhl for all of her assistance with my capstone and her continued faith in my work. Thank you to the entire Art Scholars program for giving me the resources and opportunities to make this project perfect. 

References. 

Arrington, D. B. “Home is where the art is: An art therapy approach to family therapy.” American Psychological Association, 16 November 2008, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-18029-000. Accessed 31 March 2023.

“Feb 14 Jesse Treece.” Coeval Magazine, 14 February 2017, https://www.coeval-magazine.com/coeval/jesse-treece. Accessed 31 March 2023.

Wang, G., Kim, Y., & Oh, Y. (2018). A case study on the collage art therapy for immigrant youths. Education and Information Technologies, 24(2), 1115-1129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-018-9819-y