Elizabeth Bartel: Drip Series

Artist Statement

Photographs are our cheat sheets for our memories. We rely on them to help us hold on to the past and stay connected to those we love. I have recently formed a great attachment to family photos and use them as the basis for my work.

I am most drawn to pictures taken from the late 1960’s through the early 1980’s. The patterning and color palette found in the majority of the clothing, home goods, and interior decor from this 15 year period govern many of the design decisions in my compositions.

The family photographs I use are candid, with the subject caught off guard or unimpressed with the camera. Each is filled with a wealth of inspiration for my senses. For example, the large floral print of my grandparent’s couch cover recalls a particular smell of mold, moth balls, and chocolate. Although these people and places are long gone, one glimpse of those flowers bring them right back to me.
Many of my research photos have fallen victim to aging. I use drips, splatters, and puddling of the paint to mimic the faded, water-damaged, and discolored ink of the photos. Along with the physical erosion of the photograph, comes the mental erosion of its occurrence. The importance of remembering has been magnified for me due to the recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease among numerous loved ones.
For those who suffer from the disease, memories melt and mix together like my watery painted figures. Thinning down the paint and working in layers allows me to visually represent my interpretation of the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease on memory. The figures are still evident, but they are no longer completely clear, crisp, and certain. Instead, smudges and pools of color cloud them, making the entire scene slightly indiscernible.

Over time our impressions of the past inevitably change. What I find does not change is the sincere love we have for those people and places within it.