New Faces

Curated By Hannah Jewett

Artists: Austin Eddy, Katelyn Eichwald, Katie Miller, Nora Mckinnon, and Robin Juan

December 12, 2012 - January 31, 2013

New Faces examines various forms of contemporary portraiture by an array of multidisciplinary artists. The subjects are presented not only through figurative means, but in non-linear forms, database/archive, abstraction, and text. Whether these images are staged or candid, direct or fragmented, figurative or abstract, they all embody a fundamental standard of portraiture: the record of the individual.

Austin Eddy's honest and intimate paintings allow viewers a glimpse into his relationships and acquaintances. There is a vulnerability embedded in much of his work, which embraces the imperfect qualities in people. His subjects' identities are ambiguous and yet it's apparent that his relationships to them are significant and genuine. Austin's work can often give the illusion of naivety with its unapologetic meaning and sometimes childlike gestures, however it is anything but.

The Cowboy Project is a large compilation of 600+ drawings and counting byKatelyn Eichwald. Katelyn's archival format allows a portrait to emerge through the bits and pieces of "The Cowboy", a fictional character composed of text, collage, paintings, and other paraphernalia. Not only does she manage to piece together a massive amount of various images, her work provokes many different emotions as well. The project delivers feelings that are both humorous and melancholy, hopeful and tragic all at the same time.

Katie Miller's photographs invite us into dreamlike scenarios wherein her subjects seem to be born from the landscape around them. The use of reflection and mirroring is consistent throughout much of her work, and she captures her subjects in moments of spontaneity and symmetry. Her photo series "Mirage" features the body interacting with mirrors in a desert landscape, creating surreal yet balanced figure compositions.

Nora McKinnon's portraits examine personal identity through a variety of different lenses. Her use of disruption, layering, and kaleidoscopic techniques intentionally challenge the viewer's ability to identify her subjects clearly. The photograph "Face" features the back of the head, a contradictory view of how portraiture is traditionally approached. She studies portraiture through abstracted identity and ambiguity by using multiple perspectives and obstructed viewpoints.

Robin Juan's photography presents portraiture through the documentation of objects, fragmented body imagery, and still lives. Using clusters of images, she creates mapping of individual lives and experiences. Her use of compositions and image pairings bridges non-linear narratives around her subjects, allowing a persona to emerge.

Hannah Jewett is a multidisciplinary artist based in San Francisco. She recently graduated with a BFA from California College of the Arts in Spring 2012 and currently works as an independent artist/ designer. Her practice ranges from painting and installation to jewelry and textile design. In addition she has collaborated on online features for Bay Area organizations such as Little Paper Planes and San Francisco Arts Quarterly.