{"id":21398,"date":"2025-11-30T13:58:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T19:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/?p=21398"},"modified":"2025-11-30T20:42:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T02:42:15","slug":"artist-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/11\/30\/artist-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Artist Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Heather Ryan Kelley<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The image of a single object can succinctly communicate an idea; and when that object is a book cover, a host of associations- invisible on the painting\u2019s surface- can be embodied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The book covers I have chosen to paint are those with which I have a connection because of their content, the graphic design, and physical condition. I am especially drawn to the volumes showing material evidence of the reader\u2019s attention. In the process of being read and reread, paperback book covers and dustjackets can be nearly destroyed, but at the same time they acquire an unusual beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The writer to whom I have returned most often is James Joyce. I have made many paintings, collages, intaglio prints, and artists books in response to his <em>Ulysses<\/em> and <em>Finnegans Wake<\/em>, so it seemed fitting to make paintings of the books themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Prayer (FW 259)<\/em> was made in reference to a chapter known as the Children\u2019s Hour in <em>Finnegans Wake<\/em>. On the left is an altered version of the cover of the 1930\u2019s magazine <em>Wee Wisdom <\/em>and on the right a quotation of Joyce\u2019s humorous prayer from the last page of that chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Tome<\/em> is a painting of the spine of my first copy of <em>Finnegans Wake<\/em>. Equally tattered is a found copy of <em>Aesop\u2019s Fables<\/em>. Currently I am rereading <em>The Volcano Lover<\/em> by Susan Sontag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Peck\u2019s Anatomy <\/em>and <em>Anatomy Fragment<\/em> are renderings of a reference book by Stephen Rogers Peck. The details of the insets have been altered to reflect the knee and shoulder challenges I was experiencing at the time I began the painting. Another of my well-used reference books is <em>How to Know the Minerals and Rocks<\/em> by Richard M. Pearl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Perpetual Novena<\/em> is based upon my grandmother\u2019s devotional booklet <em>Perpetual Novenas to the Sacred Heart<\/em>. <em>Seeing America<\/em> by James Gilchrist Lawson and <em>Seeing<\/em> Stars by W. B. White both belonged to my mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The outlier in the group is an altered book titled <em>World Book<\/em>. Rather than being a painting of a book cover, this work is a sculptural object. I replaced the cover of a <em>World Book Encyclopedia<\/em> volume with leather and fabric and inset a relief print on the front cover. Inside, I cut away openings for an eye cup, bottles, and a zinc plate with a quotation about mourning from Psalm 56.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">&lt;&lt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/budding\/\">Back<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/11\/30\/ulysses\/\">Next<\/a> &gt;&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Artist Statement Heather Ryan Kelley __________ The image of a single object can succinctly communicate an idea; and when that object is a book cover, a host of associations- invisible on the painting\u2019s surface- can be embodied. The book covers I have chosen to paint are those with which I have a connection because of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[248],"tags":[75],"class_list":["post-21398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-when-in-rome-nov-25","tag-boudin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21398"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21601,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21398\/revisions\/21601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}