JEFF CARR
ARTIST’SSTATEMENT
B. 1949 NEW YORK CITY
EDUCATION: CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS & CRAFTS
SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE
I GREW UP IN MISSISSIPPI DURING THE 1950’s AND EARLY 1960’s. I NOW LIVE AND WORK IN EAST OAKLAND, WHERE I FIND THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
MY URBAN ENVIRONMENT PULSATES WITH COLOR AND ENERGY ON THE SURFACE, WHICH CAN MASK THE DARKER UNDERTONES OF HARDSHIP AND VIOLENCE. I DRAW UPON A PERSONAL ICONOGRAPHY TO CREATE BRIGHTLY PATTERNED CANVASSES DOTTED WITH HUMAN HEARTS AND POPULATED BYTOYS OF THE 1950’S AND 60’S. MY DEALINGIN VINTAGE POSTCARDS AND VERNACULAR PHOTOGRAPHYPROVIDES ME WITH AN UNENDING SOURCE OF MATERIAL.
