Inspiration; Motivation; Growth;

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” 

– Andy Warhol

There is a point in most artists career where they experience a lull. This is especially true to the experiences of aspiring artists still developing their practice and goals. They have not yet been noticed or my not even have the slightest idea of where to go with art and yet they still find themselves having to produce work. I mention these scenarios because I think there is nothing more important to artists of any kind than finding inspiration and motivation. It cannot be stressed that no matter what it is you are doing you just need to start and dive into it. Do not wait, do not hesitate because as long as you are creating work you are on your way. Whether or not that work is successful to you may be a different story but it could lead to bigger and better things. One thing most definitely leads to another and although this may sounds cliché, I can tell you with experience that it is amazing where experimentation and taking chances can take you. 

Here is my journey.

Untitled experiment 2 - Miranda Lynn Marcotte- 2012

4' x 2' - soot and salt on aluminium

Untitled Experiment- Miranda Lynn Marcotte -2012

6’6” x 1’ - soot and acrylic on aluminium

These above works are what sparked my interest in alchemy and are at the root of my material choices in my current work. 

From this point I began working with metal wire and some textiles and continued experimenting with both salt and some acidic chemicals. 

3rd Year Final Body of Work - Miranda Marcotte -2013

These textile works were an interesting part of my work that helped me realize that I really enjoyed salt as a material. It transformed the objects and materials and changed their properties entirely. These experiments were important to my development because I learned a lot about my practice and interests. With this being said I have moved away from fabric and continue to work with wire because of the experiment that resulted below.

 Orchid- Miranda Marcotte - 2013

2" x 2" x 1" - salt and steel wire

 Orchid Detail- Miranda Marcotte - 2013

2" x 2" x 1" - salt and steel wire

The variation I got from this small salt sculpture was so exciting. I loved the anticipation of waiting for these sculptures to form because I never quite knew how they would develop. This was probably one of the most important points in my artistic development. 

Sculpture: Frost - Miranda Lynn Marcotte - 2013

1” x 1.5” - Steel wire, salt and colouring 

This journey has led me to the above. An accumulation of 4 years of perseverance and experimentation. A series of trials, and errors that have led me up unto this point of graduation and a final fourth year show. From this point my work will continue to develop and grow like the crystals that engulf my sculptures.

To follow my work:

Blog: miranda-marcotte.tumblr.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandalynnM9

Beyond Face Value

Graphic design has been a key part of my life for many years now, however I have mainly approached it from a very technical perspective. For me, it was always about making designs for a product, whether it was a brochure, an advertisement, or a website. Over the course of my five years at the University of Waterloo, my eyes have been opened to a new way of using graphic design - for art.  I have never thought about using my design skills for a greater purpose than branding a person or selling a product. It wasn't until studying art history that my eyes were opened to many amazing artists who do this, however one really resonated with me: Barbara Kruger.

My Body is a Battleground - 1989

Kruger uses the very graphical style of advertising to catch the attention of the viewer.  However, you can see that she is not advertising a product or a person, but bringing to the public realm a very heated topic at the time (and still is in some senses) - women's rights. This piece in particular has really resonated with me since taking an Art and Gender class in my 3rd year here at Waterloo. I was immediately captivated by how she uses very simple but very bold imagery and text to engage the viewer and make them think about how women are portrayed in society. Women have had to fight for their rights not only in the public realm, but over their bodies as well. In so much of the media then, and today, women are objectified to become a spectacle for the viewer. We can all think to the commercials of flawless women and immediately understand that society values the body over inner beauty. She also comments on consumerism by using images that would be found in the very magazines of the time.

Her work has really motivated me to push the boundaries of my design skills in a conceptual way. I am looking to do something similar to her work, but in a topic that is very prominent in my life - questioning ourselves. It sounds like a broad concept, but I know that every single person can think to a time when they felt lost, confused, scared of the direction they were going in and if they were making the right decision. This has been a prominent theme for me as I am enrolled in the co-op program, and I have been bouncing between school and the working world for five years now. Each term I had to make an adjustment, and that transitioning period is always one of distress and uncertainty. Now the only question is how it will take shape...