Exclusive Studio Visit With Artist Claire Burke Dain

Exclusive Studio Visit With Artist Claire Burke Dain

Upcoming solo exhibition at Rubberneck Gallery.
Lauren Ike
Lauren Ike Dec 3, 2017
282
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Sneak a peek at her upcoming solo exhibition at Rubberneck Gallery.

The multimedia artist, Claire Burke Dain has two main styles she will exhibit at her solo show, "Do You Love Me Now?" opening Friday, December 15th at Rubberneck Gallery. Dain calls into question, through her unique body of work, the ways in which people establish their identity.

She looks, in particular, at the way people decorate themselves and 'perform' for others. The intention behind her collection of drawings and paintings is to illustrate the invisible and intuitive self. As well as expose the identity and personality of the objects we wear. Her pieces argue, by honoring imagination anyone can transform the mundane into something magical.

Claire Burke Dain is the 2017 recipient of the Thomas Hart Benton Painting Scholarship. She received first place in the Lester Goldman 9th Biennial Drawing Competition and was a Yale/Norfolk Summer Program Nominee. Dain received a Full Merit Scholarship at the Kansas City Art Institute.

Dain grew up in the city of Chicago and is very much influenced by the buildings that surrounded her. Most all of the buildings are covered in windows, which she describes as a type of authentic glowing comic. She describes her walks through the city as simultaneous narratives which play out and in one way this is magical but like most magical things they can feel isolating and unattainable.

This article offers a sneak peek at Dain's studio practice and some of the works that will be exhibited in her upcoming solo exhibition at Rubberneck Gallery in West Town, Chicago. Claire was gracious enough to open her studio doors to show how the magic is made in her unique process.



As one can see in the photographs from our studio visit, Dain works out many of her ideas on paper, using multimedia processes. She drafts works in ink, pencil, and paint, creating layers of organic shapes built into grids and mechanized forms. Each detail seems to be assigned a function for the viewer to determine, bringing to life these futuristic abstractions.



Another body of work focuses on identity through the creation and customization of personal belongings. This series includes painted leather jackets, sweaters, shirts, jean jackets, suede jackets and panel paintings depicting these art objects. Many of these custom painted articles of clothing feature portraits of individual faces in resting position, not expressing a clear emotion, but depicting a natural reflection of the face most individuals wear as they go about their day.

One could argue the paintings reflect people at their least and most vulnerable state when they are not actively thinking of how they are being portrayed (whether out walking on the street, or home in private). Thus when the individual chooses to wear these portraits, they are making a statement about themselves through the art, as if to say "this is me, take it or leave it."




Dain shared some of the themes she focuses on in her works:

"A big theme in my artwork is the personalities and communities of different types of living things from mermaid communities to plant life to normal family dynamics. I try to look at people and depict them as if they, their habitat and habits are of an unknown species being observed from an outside species. All people fascinate me and I think they are all unique, unknown creatures inhabiting the sea of life."

Her focus on community and systems of living are one of the most interesting aspects of her work.

The transition from the studio to the gallery creates a transfer of energy, from potential to fulfillment. The obvious hand of the maker and the systems of creation are veiled in the gallery, where a grid of paper works, framed paintings, and panels hold an energy of their own. The art is ready for contemplation, providing an individual experience for the viewer.

We invite you to take part in this experience with Dain's work at the opening reception for her solo exhibition "Do You Love Me Now?", taking place Friday, December 15th from 6-10 pm at Rubberneck Gallery located at 2058 W Chicago Ave.

To RSVP for the event, please visit Rubberneck's Facebook event page!


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Cover Image Credit: Pexels
Lauren Ike
Lauren Ike Dec 3, 2017
At Columbia College Chicago
At Columbia College Chicago

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7 Reasons Why Literature Is So Important

"Literature Is One Of The Most Interesting And Significant Expressions Of Humanity." -P. T. Barnum
Breanna Sahr
Breanna Sahr Sep 1, 2015
113764
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Today, there are too many people who believe that literature is simply not important or underestimate its abilities to stand the test of time and give us great knowledge. There is a stigma in society that implies one who is more inclined toward science and math will somehow be more successful in life, and that one who is more passionate toward literature and other art forms will be destined to a life of low-paying jobs and unsatisfying careers. Somewhere along the line, the world has come to think that literature is insignificant. To me, however, literature serves as a gateway to learning of the past and expanding my knowledge and understanding of the world. Here are just a few reasons why literature is important.

1. Expanding horizons

First and foremost, literature opens our eyes and makes us see more than just what the front door shows. It helps us realize the wide world outside, surrounding us. With this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and build our intuitions and instincts. We expand our minds.

2. Building critical thinking skills

Many of us learn what critical thinking is in our language arts classes. When we read, we learn to look between the lines. We are taught to find symbols, make connections, find themes, learn about characters. Reading expands these skills, and we begin to look at a sentence with a larger sense of detail and depth and realize the importance of hidden meanings so that we may come to a conclusion.

3. A leap into the past

History and literature are entwined with each other. History is not just about power struggles, wars, names, and dates. It is about people who are products of their time, with their own lives. Today the world is nothing like it was in the 15th century; people have changed largely. Without literature, we would not know about our past, our families, the people who came before and walked on the same ground as us.

4. Appreciation for other cultures and beliefs

Reading about history, anthropology, or religious studies provides a method of learning about cultures and beliefs other than our own. It allows you to understand and experience these other systems of living and other worlds. We get a view of the inside looking out, a personal view and insight into the minds and reasoning of someone else. We can learn, understand, and appreciate it.

5. Better writing skills

When you open a book, when your eyes read the words and you take in its contents, do you ask yourself: How did this person imagine and write this? Well, many of those authors, poets, or playwrights used literature to expand their writing.

6. Addressing humanity

All literature, whether it be poems, essays, novels, or short stories, helps us address human nature and conditions which affect all people. These may be the need for growth, doubts and fears of success and failure, the need for friends and family, the goodness of compassion and empathy, trust, or the realization of imperfection. We learn that imperfection is not always bad and that normal can be boring. We learn that life must be lived to the fullest. We need literature in order to connect with our own humanity.

Literature is important and necessary. It provides growth, strengthens our minds and gives us the ability to think outside the box.

Cover Image Credit: google.com/images
Breanna Sahr
Breanna Sahr Sep 1, 2015
At Wittenberg University

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5 Quick Tips To Improve Your Focus And Time Management Skills

Here are five easy tips that helped my sense of productivity along the way.

Bri'on Whiteside
Bri'on Whiteside Sep 18, 2018
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Lately, I've been pretty disappointed in my time management skills. I've been struggling to not only maintain all of my obligations but also my sense of joy while completing each task. And although I'd love to rain check on my responsibilities, I know that extended mental vacations are not a beneficial solution for long-term purposes. With this in mind, I've recently observed the ways that I manage my time as well as the methods I use to better improve my work ethic.
As a result of my personal inventory, I decided to make a brief list of tricks that I use to better improve my time management skills and focus.

1. Find articles that encourage organization

I've been reading articles about managing obligations and discovering cool methods to better organize my life. A specific blog post that I've found helpful is "Get Your Life Together Tools" by Mariah Dyson. This brief article is extremely easy to read and filled with useful apps to help readers stay focus on their tasks at hand. The link to this gem is below:

https://www.andsoitcurls.com/blog/majorkeys-tools

2. Listen to a podcast that you enjoy


If you're anything like me, you probably work best with background noise. Now, while I love my Netflix account, I've recently discovered that binge-watching my favorite shows is only a distraction when I'm trying to meet a deadline. So, instead of compromising my focus I've recently decided to save my favorite podcasts episodes for when I'm bogged down with work.

3. Approach your 'to-do' list with positive perspective

THIS IS A MAJOR ONE FOR ME! I have a terrible habit of complaining about my workload. And while it's easy to murmur about my obligations the effects of my comments are detrimental. I've been purposely replacing the phrase "I have to" with "I get to," to remind myself that every obligation is a blessing. I'm blessed to have a job and opportunities to fulfill.

4. Color-code your planner to better prioritize your day

I learned this trick while working on my bachelor's degree and honey, please believe me when I say that this tip alone saved my undergraduate experience. I'm a huge advocate for visual representation, and having my planner organized by color is a quick way to check in and manage my priorities throughout a hectic day.

5. Manage your progress

Lately, I've been taking great joy in checking off tasks from my "to-do list." Again, being a fan of visualization, it's rewarding to know that I've completed yet another task. This technique also serves as a healthy dose of encouragement to keep on trekking along, because the reality is if you could buckle down to achieve your goals once before, you can certainly do it again.

If anything, I hope that this list leaves you with healthy options to consider, when trying to tackle a stressful day.

Bri'on Whiteside
Bri'on Whiteside Sep 18, 2018
At Bowling Green State University

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