Introducing Catherine Carter, Artist and Curator of “Exponential: Four Artists Explore Infinity”
January 29, 2013
Catherine Carter, artist and curator of "Exponential" at The Gallery now.
Mountida.edu: Please share why it is so exciting for artists to exhibit at The Gallery?
Carter: Like many people who pursue creative careers, artists constantly are faced with the age-old dilemma of creating art that sells versus creating art for one’s personal growth as an artist. Unlike commercial galleries, non-profit exhibition spaces like The Gallery at Mount Ida give artists the opportunity to be free to create and present to their audience the art they wish. Another exciting aspect of showing here is the built-in audience of young students.
Mountida.edu: Tell us about your experience in fashion design. How did you make the transition to art?
Carter: I entered the fashion industry when I was 18 years old. At that time, I knew I loved clothing, fabric and fashion design. What I didn’t know quite yet were my strengths as an artist. One of my first fashion jobs was as a freelance illustrator for Boston couturier Alfred Fiandaca. He liked my drawings and eventually hired me to be his full-time assistant. I learned a lot as an artist working in couture. I loved the illustrating part of my job, but I discovered right away that I did not have the patience for 3-D, functional art. The actual moment I knew I wanted to be an artist happened later, when I was working at a job in retail for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. During a break, I wandered into a collection of paintings by young contemporary artists. The canvases were large with bright colors and rich textures. I was the same age as many of the artists exhibiting. I said to myself, “Wow! I want to do this!”
Mountida.edu: You play the roles of curator and artist for this show. What are the challenges and rewards of taking on the dual responsibilities?
Carter: I love being both the curator and an artist in the show because I have the unique opportunity of inviting artists who are interested in the same kinds of expression as I am, but have different points of view. Presenting different perspectives on a shared theme offers the visitor multiple ways to respond to the artwork. Both as curator and artist, I want visitors to connect with the exhibit in some way. Seeing young college students engaged with the art is also rewarding, as the hope is that the experience will inspire them to express themselves creatively—the same way the Museum of Fine Arts exhibit inspired me.
Mountida.edu: Speaking of making connections, which fellow artist in “Exponential" do you most connect with in relation to your own work in the show?
Carter: I love the work of all of these artists, but the one I relate to the most would be Jeanne Williamson because of her use of fabric, which corresponds to my background in fashion. Jeanne is inspired by construction fences, which she uses as a template to print onto cloth. I feel a real affinity to her work, and I know visitors to the show will also enjoy what she does.
Mountida.edu: For young people or students who don't regularly attend art exhibits, how should they approach this show?
Carter: For those new to art or attending exhibits, my tip would be to approach the art the same way you would approach a party where you don't know anyone. You know that feeling? At first, you arrive a little nervous. Then you strike up a conversation with someone new and suddenly make a connection. The same goes for art. Even if you don’t understand exactly what an artist is trying to communicate, you might respond to the colors, the texture or the medium. This show is rich in color and texture with a lot of variety in materials, reflecting the individuality of the artists. For example, Nancy Natale’s work echoes her personal history of her grandfather’s profession as a blacksmith, with her use of metal tacks to hold the pieces together. Sand T Kalloch’s work, made of resin applied over jewel-toned paint, is a burst of color, light and reflection.
Come visit “Exponential” today at The Gallery at Mount Ida in Carlson Hall.The show is from January 29 – March 2, 2013 with a reception and artist talk on February 7 from 6PM – 8PM. The Mount Ida Community and general public are welcome; admission is free. For directions and hours, click here.