Self-Portrait on Forest Floor
From Cass: In my piece, “Self-Portrait on Forest Floor,” I was focused on the concept of autonomy. This is reflected both in the process and in the subject matter. I carved potatoes and used the stamps to create organic shapes with greater visual variety than I was capable of inventing. Through this process, I felt I was collaborating with some input outside of myself. It was an exploration of my desire to control and my inability to. The yellow cords connecting to tree branches were one of my initial inspirations. I see them as a representation of mycelial networks. The figure entangled, caught, and cradled by these networks describes my own flailing to understand my place in connection with unseen natural forces. I believe understanding interconnectedness with non-human beings defines a standard for mutual benefit in human communities as well.
Figure on Shoreline
My current work orbits around my interest in biology and environmental philosophy. Mingling symbols for what is wild with my figurative subject, I describe the body as a biome. In this way, I collapse the boundary between “self” and “other.”
About the artist: A natural desire to explore has led me to study art making in a unique way. Following artistic opportunities and seasonal work, I traveled in an antique RV with my partner from my home state of Georgia to Montana. There I practiced drawing at the Missoula Fine Arts Studio. The following year I drove my home to Arizona to attend open studios at the Scottsdale Artist's School. I began working as an art model to glean instruction from workshops while keeping expenses low. In seasons with limited access to instruction, I’ve aimed to explore new modes of creation. I attribute development in my personal style to these unstructured explorations. After spending 2020 in Montana working in a home studio, I moved to Chicago where I model, instruct, and paint at the Palette and Chisel Fine Art Academy.
See more of Cass’ work on her Instagram.