November 11 - December 4, 2022
From Clamp Light Studios and Gallery:
“Unexpressed Love is a project exploring the collective experience of grief, loss and the longing for human connection through cyanotype textiles, prints and performance art. The title of the exhibition is inspired by an interview with Andrew Garfield. He says, talking about his mother, “I hope this grief stays with me, because it is all of the unexpressed love I didn’t get to tell her”. This project is an avenue for me and my community to express love to those lost.
The images seen in the work contain family photographs, self-portraits, my own photographs and submissions from friends and family. When discussing the concept of Unexpressed Love to those around me, I was asked to include photographs from someone or something they had lost, a screenshot of the last conversation they had with a friend, or poems/journal entries they had written around the subject of unexpressed love. This led me to open submissions to the community and affirmed that I was not alone in these experiences. It is collective.
I use cyanotype as a medium because of its versatility to print on any natural material. I am able to print on textiles and clothing to make wearable pieces, as seen in the performance video. Cyanotype’s unpredictability pushes me to experiment when I am using this technique and be more spontaneous when composing my work. Because I use the sun to expose my pieces, there is no guarantee the end result will look exactly how I want it to look.
The purpose of this project is to create a space for us to sit in our grief and longing. It recognizes that grief is the repeated experience of learning to live and love in the midst of a significant loss. The show features visual stories loved ones, moments and past selves loss. It is dedicated to that and to my family. Their strength, despite so much loss, pushes me to make my work.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mary Margaret Johnson was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and received her BA in Fine Arts at Sewanee: The University of the South in 2018. Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist and curator, and educator based in San Antonio whose practice includes photography, textiles, print making, performance, painting, and murals. She has exhibited her work all over Texas and Tennessee. In 2020, she started and founded her own business, Art By Moogs, which has gained national recognition and clients. Johnson also teaches her artistic practices to all ages for organizations like Texas Public Radio, Ruby City and Briscoe Western Art Museum as well as private lessons.
ABOUT THE GALLERY
Established in 2009, Clamp Light Artist Studios & Gallery has been committed to supporting local contemporary artists in South Texas. Clamp Light functions as both a studio space for resident artists and a gallery space for monthly exhibitions. Artists work in a variety of media including installation, sculpture, painting, photography, performance and new media. Clamp Light Gallery is located 1704 Blanco Road. Hours are by appointment only.
https://clamplightstudios.com/”
1704 Blanco Rd, Suite 104
San Antonio, 78212 TX
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