On Display at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery During ArtPrize 2024
Sept. 12, 2024
How many times per day do you find yourself granting permission to this or that app to send information, access your data or share your location? Do you ever stop to think about where and how that information will show up?
Christopher Shields invites us to ask questions about our vulnerability, both intentional and unintentional, through “Permission.”
“What do we allow people to see of us in person, and how does that compare to the image we curate online?” Shields asked. “I’m fascinated by how the digital world impacts the analog — the in-person — experience. I wanted to explore the ideas of authenticity and how we do or don’t make ourselves vulnerable.”
His entry into ArtPrize is a 48”x60” oil on canvas. It is a composite self portrait comprising five or six main images of himself.
“Self portraits can be a slippery slope,” Shields said. “I realize that some people think they are vain. I hope that in this work, people will see vulnerability and awkwardness. “
This is Shields’ second year of participating in ArtPrize. Last year, he won the Prism Award for his painting about artificial intelligence. This year, he continues to integrate technology themes into his work.
Shields notes that exhibiting in ArtPrize is a completely different experience than showing work in a gallery.
“I’ve been exhibiting since I was in my 20s,” Shields said. “Last year, I felt confident but then had a last-minute bout of panic. I realized that when I showed in a gallery, I was putting my work in front of people who knew what to expect. At ArtPrize, anyone can come up and ask questions. It’s a whole different experience.”
Fortunately, Shields said, the experience was positive. “Art is absolutely vital. It’s part of living in society. I loved the interaction and the kind words.” He also enjoyed showing his freshmen art students that by staying authentic, they will be able to do whatever they want.
Shields uses what he admits is a very left-brained process to create a right-brained, creative piece of art. The work is a labor of love. Ultimately, the birch plywood panels he’s using will have 12 layers plus a glaze, but he doesn’t start there.
“I don’t start with a blank canvas,” Shields said. “For this piece, I combined, filtered, layered and PhotoShopped my ideas into a digital composite. Then I started painting. And while new things are happening as I move from digital to analog, this process helps relieve anxiety and provide me with an emotional safety net.”
“Anyone can become involved in this piece,” Shields said. I hope it makes people think about the permissions they grant, both digitally and in person, that allow others to see the true self.”
You can learn more about Shields and his work via his website.
GRCC will be hosting six ArtPrize entries in the Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. ArtPrize is open to the public from September 13-28, 2024. Learn more about the competition, venues, artists and voting.