Imagillaboration Collaborative Sculpture Project

PROJECT COORDINATOR

GROUP 11 FACILITATOR

Michael Cottrell, Jacksonville Florida

Uh, I won't be redundant.

Allen Peterson, Atlanta Georgia

My latest work investigates the way in which the subjectivity of human perceptions limits the individual's world view. The individual's mental “map” of reality is formed by experiences; the record of these experiences is the group of memories formed by perceptions. As many have noted, this makes reality quite a subjective experience. My work takes as its starting point the idea that maps, far from being neutral documents, are equally subjective, and tell as much about the person who made them as they do about the location that they purport to represent.

I am fascinated by the interconnections surrounding the individual in the world. I explore themes of system and community in my work, in which individual elements often combine to form structures based on interrelationships. I question what it means to be an individual within a network of systems. To what extent do societal, cultural, or economic systems hold the individual in place, or to what extent is the individual free to move across these systems? To what extent does a person's inclusion as a component part of these systems limit the possibility of an objective perspective on them? Can a group of individuals have an awareness that is separate from and greater than the sum of its parts? I enjoy making work in which small elements add up to form a whole, the complexity of which is compounded by the interrelationships present.

I tend to relate the process of making art to the ideas that I explore by making the systematization of my own production part of the piece. I create rules for myself, opening possibilities for a body of work by closing others. I become a worker for myself, or the player of a game, or a participant in a ritual. The process of making art furthers an investigation of the forces at work around me. The result is a map of this journey. My hope is that the viewer may see the possibilities at play within the structure of the work and accompany me on a journey of inquiry.

Jenny Hager, Visiting Instructor of Art, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

Website

Jenny K. Hager received her MFA in Spatial Arts and Digital Media from San Jose State University in San Jose, CA. Before recently joining the faculty at UNF as a Visiting Instructor teaching Sculpture, 3D Design, and 2D Design,

Hager's artwork is a unique mesh of ideas and materials. Working in a variety of media including steel, iron, post-it notes, wood, video, digital photography and found objects, her work is often autobiographical and has covered such subjects as idea mapping, marriage and culture, and femininity explored through industrial materials. Hager often works with disparate materials and ideas and loves to pair the digital world with objects and physical space. Her most recent work is a video installation in which dreams of flight and the mechanics of swimming come into play through ideas, references, and objects. Hager is also an accomplished cast iron artist and has been a cupola master and panelist at various cast iron pours and conferences throughout the country. In addition, she is the publisher and co-editor of “The Cast Iron Handbook for Artists,” She has also written and edited articles for SWITCH magazine, an online publication for digital artists.

Katie O' Conner, Roswell Georgia

Many of my sculptures and installations begin as materials explorations and end as explorations of the human condition. I am interested in the defects of the human character which we all share such as being self-centered, dishonest, reckless, self-righteous, or envious. I look for materials that share these qualities. Porcelain can seem self-righteous, satin can seem lustful and envious, and one material appearing as another can be dishonest. My goal is that the viewer can make these connections as well.

Patrick Miko, Jacksonville Florida

Born Mayfield Heights Ohio 1970

Found Art 1976

Started Making art 1977

Undergrad 1996 Kent state University Studio Arts BFA MA UW Madison 1999 Graphics MFA 2000 Printmaking and Glassworking Concentrations Make Art and teach art University of North Florida 2007

Matt Toole, Savannah Georgia

Website

Matt Toole grew up on the barrier islands and salt marshes of Savannah, Georgia. He received a BFA from Georgia Southern University in 1994 and received an MFA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 2000.

Toole has since been a resident artist at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, The John Michael Kohler Art's Center in Sheboygan Wisconsin, and Franconia Sculpture Park north of Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota. He has traveled throughout the U.S. and U.K. collaborating on cast iron projects and creating performances dealing with the process of casting metal.

Mr. Toole has been involved with the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art for the last 9 years and is currently a professor of Foundation Studies and Sculpture at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

Lee Ann Mitchell, Athens Georgia

My sculpture is a three-dimensional conversation with myself. The work varies in format, usage of materials and the issues addressed. I develop ideas for my work from the societal information around us and the message in the work can range from personal to socio-political, often with a touch of humor.

Jim Buonaccorsi, Athens Georgia

My work addresses social, political and philosophical issues. The sculpture I make is not an attempt at moralizing, prophesying or passing judgment, but rather a way of confronting the issues we conveniently ignore. Most of the works are constructed in steel with other media, such as bronze, aluminum, cast iron, glass and concrete. Incorporated within these pieces are historical, architectural, and figural elements. My sculpture is industrial, both in appearance, as well as the method of construction. I feel that this type of imagery successfully addresses the post-industrial, socio-political and philosophical issues I want to call into question. The utilization of this type of imagery acts as an indicator to the issue of man's inability to learn from history. Although as a species we continue to make claims of great progress in both civilization and technology, this progress is often misused. The same mistakes are constantly being made and our technology, which is most often war generated, has merely made us more efficient in making these mistakes.

Marygrace Perkins, Roswell Georgia

website

	PROJECT COORDINATOR GROUP 11 FACILITATOR Michael Cottrell, Jacksonville Florida Website Uh, I won't be redundant.

	Allen Peterson, Atlanta Georgia WEBSITE My latest work investigates the way in which the subjectivity of human perceptions limits the individual's world view. The individual's mental “map” of reality is formed by experiences; the record of these experiences is the group of memories formed by perceptions. As many have noted, this makes reality quite a subjective experience. My work takes as its starting point the idea that maps, far from being neutral documents, are equally subjective, and tell as much about the person who made them as they do about the location that they purport to represent. I am fascinated by the interconnections surrounding the individual in the world. I explore themes of system and community in my work, in which individual elements often combine to form structures based on interrelationships. I question what it means to be an individual within a network of systems. To what extent do societal, cultural, or economic systems hold the individual in place, or to what extent is the individual free to move across these systems? To what extent does a person's inclusion as a component part of these systems limit the possibility of an objective perspective on them? Can a group of individuals have an awareness that is separate from and greater than the sum of its parts? I enjoy making work in which small elements add up to form a whole, the complexity of which is compounded by the interrelationships present. I tend to relate the process of making art to the ideas that I explore by making the systematization of my own production part of the piece. I create rules for myself, opening possibilities for a body of work by closing others. I become a worker for myself, or the player of a game, or a participant in a ritual. The process of making art furthers an investigation of the forces at work around me. The result is a map of this journey. My hope is that the viewer may see the possibilities at play within the structure of the work and accompany me on a journey of inquiry.
	Jenny Hager, Visiting Instructor of Art, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL Website Jenny K. Hager received her MFA in Spatial Arts and Digital Media from San Jose State University in San Jose, CA. Before recently joining the faculty at UNF as a Visiting Instructor teaching Sculpture, 3D Design, and 2D Design, Hager's artwork is a unique mesh of ideas and materials. Working in a variety of media including steel, iron, post-it notes, wood, video, digital photography and found objects, her work is often autobiographical and has covered such subjects as idea mapping, marriage and culture, and femininity explored through industrial materials. Hager often works with disparate materials and ideas and loves to pair the digital world with objects and physical space. Her most recent work is a video installation in which dreams of flight and the mechanics of swimming come into play through ideas, references, and objects. Hager is also an accomplished cast iron artist and has been a cupola master and panelist at various cast iron pours and conferences throughout the country. In addition, she is the publisher and co-editor of “The Cast Iron Handbook for Artists,” She has also written and edited articles for SWITCH magazine, an online publication for digital artists.

	Katie O' Conner, Roswell Georgia Many of my sculptures and installations begin as materials explorations and end as explorations of the human condition. I am interested in the defects of the human character which we all share such as being self-centered, dishonest, reckless, self-righteous, or envious. I look for materials that share these qualities. Porcelain can seem self-righteous, satin can seem lustful and envious, and one material appearing as another can be dishonest. My goal is that the viewer can make these connections as well.
	Patrick Miko, Jacksonville Florida Born Mayfield Heights Ohio 1970 Found Art 1976 Started Making art 1977 Undergrad 1996 Kent state University Studio Arts BFA MA UW Madison 1999 Graphics MFA 2000 Printmaking and Glassworking Concentrations Make Art and teach art University of North Florida 2007
	Matt Toole, Savannah Georgia Website Matt Toole grew up on the barrier islands and salt marshes of Savannah, Georgia. He received a BFA from Georgia Southern University in 1994 and received an MFA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 2000. Toole has since been a resident artist at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, The John Michael Kohler Art's Center in Sheboygan Wisconsin, and Franconia Sculpture Park north of Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota. He has traveled throughout the U.S. and U.K. collaborating on cast iron projects and creating performances dealing with the process of casting metal. Mr. Toole has been involved with the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art for the last 9 years and is currently a professor of Foundation Studies and Sculpture at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.
	Lee Ann Mitchell, Athens Georgia My sculpture is a three-dimensional conversation with myself. The work varies in format, usage of materials and the issues addressed. I develop ideas for my work from the societal information around us and the message in the work can range from personal to socio-political, often with a touch of humor.
	Jim Buonaccorsi, Athens Georgia My work addresses social, political and philosophical issues. The sculpture I make is not an attempt at moralizing, prophesying or passing judgment, but rather a way of confronting the issues we conveniently ignore. Most of the works are constructed in steel with other media, such as bronze, aluminum, cast iron, glass and concrete. Incorporated within these pieces are historical, architectural, and figural elements. My sculpture is industrial, both in appearance, as well as the method of construction. I feel that this type of imagery successfully addresses the post-industrial, socio-political and philosophical issues I want to call into question. The utilization of this type of imagery acts as an indicator to the issue of man's inability to learn from history. Although as a species we continue to make claims of great progress in both civilization and technology, this progress is often misused. The same mistakes are constantly being made and our technology, which is most often war generated, has merely made us more efficient in making these mistakes.
	Marygrace Perkins, Roswell Georgia website