2008 Woodie Awards
Students intrigued by inappropriate art
By: Ian Glennie
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
Installation artist Sandy Skoglund likes to "go against the grain" and enjoys using materials deemed inappropriate for art - like raw beef and bacon.
Skoglund spoke about the motivations and the evolution of her work over the course of her career to a nearly-full house Tuesday night in the Bovee University Center's Auditorium.
The artist said humans and nature, escaping consciousness and popular culture, are prominent themes in her pieces.
"The relationship of the human being as a combatant of nature, as the one animal that exists to transform nature, is to me a very important source of content," Skoglund said.
She used her work, "The Greenhouse," to illustrate her incorporation of this human relationship.
"The Greenhouse" is a work that depicts sculpted purple dogs in an all green room, which according to Skoglund integrated the notion dogs are in essence a creation of man stemming for the controlled breeding of the wolf.
"I really don't believe that art should take a moral position and tell someone how to act," she said. "What it means is what you think it means, not what I think it means."
Among her current achievements, Skoglund has been asked to display one of her pieces at September's Democratic National Convention.
She also recently has completed the pipe cleaner composed work called "Fresh Hybrid" which she said represents, "a world gone soft."
During the question segment of Skoglund's presentation, students were curious about further influences and approaches to her work.
Portage senior Rob Barrett said Skoglund's work seems dream-like and questioned how much of it is influenced by her dreams.
Skoglund said dreams play no role in the creation of her art.
"I repress normal life so much to get my art done that I'm deficient in it (life), and it comes out in my dreams," she said.
To highlight this point, she said that her waking life is more similar to a dream state while her dreaming life could be looked at as normal.
After the presentation, students were left fascinated by Skoglund's words.
Owosso senior Angela Ainsworth said after learning about Skoglund in her art history class, it especially was enlightening to hear Skoglund explain the work she had studied.
"When I took an art history class, we learned about her work," she said, "But it was really interesting to listen to her actually explain it."
Big Rapids senior Greg Czinder said he was happy to get the opportunity to see Skoglund speak.
"It's amazing that we get an artist that is so renowned to come to our university," he said.
Skoglund will be displaying her work "Raining Bottles" today through April 2 at the University Art Gallery's West Gallery. The work is comprised of water bottles and has been a collaborative effort with 30 CMU art students.
news@cm-life.com
Skoglund spoke about the motivations and the evolution of her work over the course of her career to a nearly-full house Tuesday night in the Bovee University Center's Auditorium.
The artist said humans and nature, escaping consciousness and popular culture, are prominent themes in her pieces.
"The relationship of the human being as a combatant of nature, as the one animal that exists to transform nature, is to me a very important source of content," Skoglund said.
She used her work, "The Greenhouse," to illustrate her incorporation of this human relationship.
"The Greenhouse" is a work that depicts sculpted purple dogs in an all green room, which according to Skoglund integrated the notion dogs are in essence a creation of man stemming for the controlled breeding of the wolf.
"I really don't believe that art should take a moral position and tell someone how to act," she said. "What it means is what you think it means, not what I think it means."
Among her current achievements, Skoglund has been asked to display one of her pieces at September's Democratic National Convention.
She also recently has completed the pipe cleaner composed work called "Fresh Hybrid" which she said represents, "a world gone soft."
During the question segment of Skoglund's presentation, students were curious about further influences and approaches to her work.
Portage senior Rob Barrett said Skoglund's work seems dream-like and questioned how much of it is influenced by her dreams.
Skoglund said dreams play no role in the creation of her art.
"I repress normal life so much to get my art done that I'm deficient in it (life), and it comes out in my dreams," she said.
To highlight this point, she said that her waking life is more similar to a dream state while her dreaming life could be looked at as normal.
After the presentation, students were left fascinated by Skoglund's words.
Owosso senior Angela Ainsworth said after learning about Skoglund in her art history class, it especially was enlightening to hear Skoglund explain the work she had studied.
"When I took an art history class, we learned about her work," she said, "But it was really interesting to listen to her actually explain it."
Big Rapids senior Greg Czinder said he was happy to get the opportunity to see Skoglund speak.
"It's amazing that we get an artist that is so renowned to come to our university," he said.
Skoglund will be displaying her work "Raining Bottles" today through April 2 at the University Art Gallery's West Gallery. The work is comprised of water bottles and has been a collaborative effort with 30 CMU art students.
news@cm-life.com
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