ARTIST STATEMENT
Broken, cast out and overlooked items of the past appeal to me. In addition, I am enticed by color which also plays an important role in my work. By incorporating nostalgic images and objects that collide and overlap, ultimately fusing the past and present, my pieces challenge and encourage the viewer to make personal discoveries, perhaps eliciting subconscious memories. Time is suspended within the urban detritus and symbols break through familiar boundaries as a uniting force and continue to percolate beneath the surface. Clues may facilitate shared experiences, yet the story which unfolds is unique to each individual.
My multi-media collage constructions all incorporate dynamic juxtapositions of layered surfaces. Breathing new life into forgotten objects, the assemblages bring worth and lightheartedness into what has been deemed worthless and valueless. Ephemera and discarded objects are all fused together into a visual diary of memory and myth, fact and fiction.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Christine Thiel holds a BFA from The University of Illinois in Painting. She has had shows at the Addington Gallery, the U of I Union Gallery, Rogers Park Art Gallery, and the Arlington Heights Public Library. And she was also the Chicago Artist of the Month in 2006. Water and whimsy are two vital components of her work. Dr. Seuss often makes an appearance, and her assemblage pieces are inspired by artists such as Rauschenberg, and Joseph Cornell.
© Christine Thiel