Type of Submission
Art Exhibit
Keywords
artwork, engraving, plexi, drawing
Proposal
I’d Ask to Rest and With Our Backs Toward Each Other are a two-part series that is an a. 18.5’’ by 15’’ and b. 14’’ by 30’’ dry-point engraving on plexi with black ink. With six prints of each, this work is a collage of family photos that have an emphasis on overlapping portraits and objects. The family photos have been cut out and rearranged to create balance and allow space for a focus on content. Both pieces have been arranged for the portraits to carry the flow as they direct the viewer’s eyes. The mark shows a hierarchy of detail to refine focal points and sometimes becomes abstract to frame portraits and objects. Harsh edges create the borders with soft overlays, shaping the core of the work.
Familial relations have engaged me as an artist. In this piece, I wanted to explore how I see the relationships between my family members, specifically maternal and paternal, along with those of my siblings. My goal for the piece(s) was to not only portray the relationships for the viewer, but also to navigate them for myself. As I traced memories and experiences into overlapping lines and figures, I created a live grid of my familial perception. I believe past memories can be recomposed and documented to navigate relationships between experiences. This belief forced me to reevaluate my childhood and current standing within my family and make connections that would promote the content of the piece(s). This work is to be viewed from many angles with an understanding that there are deep personal layers within. I would invite the viewer to create their own connections and reflect on what an image of their family would look like cut out, rearranged, and challenged.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Copyright
© 2025 Kirsten A. Havens. All rights reserved.
Publication Date
2-28-2025
With Our Back Toward Each Other and I'd Ask To Rest
I’d Ask to Rest and With Our Backs Toward Each Other are a two-part series that is an a. 18.5’’ by 15’’ and b. 14’’ by 30’’ dry-point engraving on plexi with black ink. With six prints of each, this work is a collage of family photos that have an emphasis on overlapping portraits and objects. The family photos have been cut out and rearranged to create balance and allow space for a focus on content. Both pieces have been arranged for the portraits to carry the flow as they direct the viewer’s eyes. The mark shows a hierarchy of detail to refine focal points and sometimes becomes abstract to frame portraits and objects. Harsh edges create the borders with soft overlays, shaping the core of the work.
Familial relations have engaged me as an artist. In this piece, I wanted to explore how I see the relationships between my family members, specifically maternal and paternal, along with those of my siblings. My goal for the piece(s) was to not only portray the relationships for the viewer, but also to navigate them for myself. As I traced memories and experiences into overlapping lines and figures, I created a live grid of my familial perception. I believe past memories can be recomposed and documented to navigate relationships between experiences. This belief forced me to reevaluate my childhood and current standing within my family and make connections that would promote the content of the piece(s). This work is to be viewed from many angles with an understanding that there are deep personal layers within. I would invite the viewer to create their own connections and reflect on what an image of their family would look like cut out, rearranged, and challenged.
