Description
ARTIST STATEMENT
The State of the Union Dress is a mixed media image made with Tetra Pak upcycled packaging material for shaped intaglio drypoint printing plates and printed as a two color monoprint. The print was then combined with used novelty American flags, gold leaf printed rice papers with hand and machine sewing. The front of the dress features a circle of 13 stars as did Betsy Ross’s original American flag that represented the 13 orginal colonies (her circular star arrangement is now disputed because it was only verbally substantiated by her family). Inset in the star circle on the botice is an inverted detail from our present flag. The skirt of the dress also has a soiled and torn American flag in the inverted position signifying the universal code for distress. The SOTU Dress symbolizes the condition of our republic and the disrespect of our nation, our citizens and our founding principles by both past and current administrations, corporations and agencies. Our nation cries for relief from this sotted tyranny and a return to the rule of law in this the 250th anniversary of our United States of America.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kim Laurel is a Chicago based mixed media artist, illustrator and graphic designer and has exhibited in the United States, Canada and England since 1977. She studied at Oberlin College, the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland State University and Illinois State University. Her works of art are part of various public and corporate collections.
Laurel’s recent curatorial work includes: Her Way With Print, Fletcher Hayes & Kim Laurel Collaborations: Black/White/Gray, Element Flux, Ethereal Fauna: The Artistʼs Muse, Tool Box Flower Box, Integrant Element Lab, Redux Loop, Wild Things and Beyond. She is a long standing member of Woman Made Gallery, the Mid America Print Council, the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative and the Chicago Artistʼs Coalition. Kim’s art is exhibited in many Chicago galleries and institutions and is represented by the Workshop Print Gallery – Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, Il. She teaches private and public classes at the Chicago Printmaker.
© Kim Laurel