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Art

“Substitute”

The Simple Things You See are All Complicated

September / October 2008

Mixed Media by Kevin C. House

Artist Reception: Friday, September 12th - 6pm to 9pm

Artist's Statement

I am calling this exhibit "SUBSTITUTE". For no other reason than I was in the right place at the right time with the right answer when asked to fill a vacant spot in the Lift's art schedule. "I am a substitute for another guy. The simple things you see are all complicated."

I am a self-taught artist — an outsider. I have been making mixed-media, collages and box constructions for over 25 years. I work with traditional and non-traditional art materials uniting both common and unique artifacts from our world-both past and present. Using a variety of materials, along with unusual juxtapositions, I create mixed-media works instilled with an aura of mystery and sly wit. Laced with both the familiar and the ambiguous, all of my work is carefully crafted and individually composed. My vast archives include intriguing paper items, photographs, adornments and objets d'arts (atoms) from my's travels throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico–and the world via eBay.

Over the last 15 years, I have been using a scanner as a digital camera, to capture thousands of printed papers, photographs, postcards, matchbox labels and more. With the addition of a high-end ink-jet printer, this archive of high-resolution digital images (bits and bytes) has become not a substitute for, but a compliment to my archive of traditional materials (atoms).

With these hi-res images (bytes), I have been creating digital collages. The working environment of digital image manipulation is cut and paste, and drag and drop — a collage environment. However, this environment allows the collagist a host of options for bringing together images that would be very difficult if not impossible with traditional methods. Computer software also allows for creating textures and effects such as shadows, realistic lightening bolts, beveled edges and seamless blending. Limited edition, archival digital prints are the end result.

My goal is to create art that triggers memories and provokes contemplation.

See more of my art at, Artdive Gallery / 1417 Walnut, Des Moines • 515-245-9000 www.artdive.com