this month kelly correll brown: everyday imaginings
Kelly Correll Brown's work mixes textures, media and tone to tell stories at the intersection of imagination and reality. Layers of possibility quietly unfold in what first feels like a pleasing construction of the familiar--there is accessible room to explore that interplay of consciousness and projection. Kelly breaks it all down for us here...On Her Work: There is an underlying theme throughout my work that is centered on the loose interpretation of dreams as fairy tales and fairy tales as reality. I work within the realm of imagination and try to marry this into the mundane events of everyday life. I find interesting, the contrast between what we see as reality and what the imagination places into our consciousness. I describe my work as reflecting an “absencescape”. The landscape of the whole is hinted at through an absence of literal imagery. It is similar to the space between alertness and dreams when reality is blurred just a bit, an escape from absence.
I work with many different materials and in a variety of techniques. Because I have a background in textiles, sewing, painting and drawing I incorporate elements of all of these techniques within my work. I do not like limiting myself to working on one piece at a time. This process allows me to begin to build a story that can flow circularly rather than linearly.
My greatest hope is that my work reflects my belief in the powers of whimsy, absence, fear, silence, and an ever-evolving story.
On Living in Oakland: Eight years ago I transplanted myself, my husband, 2 cats, and 1 goldfish to a small apartment on 14th Street in downtown Oakland. In retrospect, it was one of the best ideas that I have ever cooked up; I have been in Oakland ever since.
The friends that I have made, the people that I have encountered, my time at CCAC (yes, it was still CCAC when I went there), and the musical projects that I have been involved with since my move have changed and molded the artist that I have become. I am ever curious about the parts of my City still unexplored and the parts that are not now with us (anyone remember the junkyard that used to be under the BART overpass in West Oakland…best place to buy mannequins EVER). Oakland is truly an eclectic and inspirational place. It has ignited my imagination more times that I can count.
I’m glad I decided to stay…
See more of Kelly's work at www.kelbrown.com and www.absencescapes.blogspot.com; contact her at misskel66@gmail.com.
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