Kayla Olive: Capering

MFA Exhibition
August 31 - September 11, 2020 

"Capering stems from my childhood memories of play, using my dance background as both an inspiration and process for creating. Using my feet and ballet shoes as brushes, there is a repetitive nature to the gestural marks I make painting that is similar to the repetition required in ballet. I have created a body of work for exhibition that consists of nine large paintings that are 6’x8,’ one wall installation that is 10’x8,’ 50 small 5’x7’ paintings, and four folded sculptural paintings of varying sizes. Each of these paintings depict orbed forms inspired by my toes. These paintings, with the exception of the sculptural paintings on paper, are on loose canvas using watercolor, acrylic paint, colored pencil, and oil pastel. Dancing on my paintings was a way to record large full body gestural movements. The full body marks can be seen in relationship to smaller marks made from my shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Throughout this past year, I explored and experimented with a vast range of color palettes, compositions, and a variety of mark-making tools. I learned that happenstance can be intentional, and that one can flow freely back and forth between the two during the creative process. While I did research into cultures and time periods, I procured the most helpful information from inquires of myself."