Page 226 - Cityview_July_Aug_2015

ARTS
IN THE BACK
AStory by Noelle Harb Photography by Tyler Oxendine
Ashley Addair’s work brims with a fresh femininity that is both innovative and nostalgic. As a mother of two young boys and a studio artist, Addair’s art simultaneously celebrates the impor- tance of making impactful art—and the importance of scrubbing dirty dishes. Her life as a mother and a woman shapes her art just
as dramatically as her time in the studio shapes her experience as a homemaker. Addair approaches household chores and art with equal parts playfulness, wisdom, and intentionality. To her, the ordinary is sacred, and the sacred is ordinary.
This attitude translates palpably on the canvas. Addair’s thematic material frequently centers on domestic life. She is drawn to pastel col- ors, floral patterns, textures, and household items—material that society often dismisses as trivial. “I like taking those elements that seem insig- nificant or girly and elevating them to have significance and meaning.”
Her exhibit at the Emporium Center maintains the characteris- tics that typify her style while simultaneously exploring the idea of interconnectedness. Techniques of spreading paint are reminiscent of spreading oil onto the frying pan; the scent of freshly folded laundry is embedded gently in the pores of fabric she incorporates onto the canvas. “If we are all interconnected, can these disparate parts come together in a way that’s beautiful?” By combining clashing colors and patterns into one stunning piece of art, Addair’s exhibit answers this question with a resounding yes.
“I had this division where I’ve been making art about being a woman and being a mother. But now I want a more fluid thing: The art-making process is happening while I’m playing in the sandbox and hanging clothes on the line. I bring this into the studio.”
Ashley Addair’s work will be on display from July 3 to August 1 at the Emporium Center (100 South Gay Street; 865-523-7312; www.theemporiumcenter.com)
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JULY AUGUST 2015