Cline's Curiosa

Artist Philosophy & Method

My artwork can be described as an alchemical mixing of various materials, towards achieving a cohesive and compelling result that has its own sense of balance and dynamic presence. Simply put, I throw a lot of stuff in the pot and stir until it becomes a palatable finished repast. One consistent element in my work is a small scale.

I also work in varied formats, and modes of presentation:

1) I have been at work for several years on a series of 5 x 7" framed images that usually have 3-D elements incorporated. I use the same black-and-white IKEA frames for consistency. These pieces can be displayed as a series equation, reminiscent of a narrative, or an “alphabet” in that they can be mixed-and-matched to achieve all kinds of visual interactions. All are outfitted to hang on a wall although I like to set them up on simple, non-distracting Ikea "picture" shelves because the shelf becomes an underline connecting the series and creates a sense of fluidity, as the pieces are free to move about like a reshuffled card deck or a new lay of Tarot cards. Most of these pieces are vertically oriented. The small horizontal group could be displayed separately so as not to break the uniformity.

2) I have unframed pieces as well, some of which have holes or other devices for hanging, but others of which are meant to be presented on picture stands or the picture shelves, or even laid down flat. A lot of these pieces are of similar scale with the 5" x 7" framed pictures and can be displayed with them without interrupting the sense of series. In addition, there are other larger 8" x 10" pieces that hang or sit on stands, and I have one extra-large (approximately 34” x 26”) piece that is actually a series of size-related pieces that are all hung from holes.

3) Another way I really like to display work is inside a shelved glass-fronted cabinet, like a “cabinet of curiosities". This is where the standing, leaning, flat, and completely 3-D pieces can be shown to advantage. My work is also definitely weird, or “curious", in keeping with the cabinet theme.

4) I also have produced a group of completely free-standing objects. Also fairly small in scale, they are inspired by miniature theaters, reliquaries, shrines, esoteric objects, etc.

5) Lastly, as I have so many inspirations and lots of resulting ideas, I am working on a series of miniature items, some of which are related by their tiny identical containers, with other individual mini-objects joining the mix.