Author Archives: cassandradavis

About cassandradavis

An artist living and working in Chicago, I am a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I managed to study every sort of media with which I could experiment. I also spent a year at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a half-year studying abroad in Lima, Peru, and recently taught in southern Spain. That time abroad has certainly shaped many of the views I have today and has been a great influence on the work that I have created since. While in Lima, I was fortunate to have been able to work at an archaeological dig, as well as travel to many archaeological sites in Peru, experiencing first hand so much of what had intrigued me as an artist and later brought me to those sacred spaces. In many ways I dream of those spaces where ancient mummies rest, but I know that I have also been able to take that experience after returning to the States and begin to reflect on my own history. My most recent body of work is a series of photographs from my hometown, at the church where I grew up and the youth center that influenced my later years at home. I wanted to return to the intensely spiritual, evangelical spaces in which I grew up, this time armed with a camera and a new set of eyes. I wanted to treat this work with a sort of anthropological approach, looking to my past from perhaps a more objective viewpoint, or atleast one that had greatly evolved from its beginnings. I would assume this is something everyone does at some point in their life, comparing where we have come from with where we are now. Only my issues take on a grander perspective: choosing to challenge the spiritual roots that bore me, to question the deep beliefs of so many loved ones that raised me. Already in taking these photographs I have been reminded of the sincerity of these individuals, and their very intense message of love, however I cannot help but see new things unseen in the days of my childhood. I hope this body of work is a compilation of those realizations, of those moments where I notice that nothing is simple and we must always question our realities.

Open Studios!

Posted by cassandradavis in Photography, Uncategorized and tagged with

Open Studios!

Come check out my work at open studios! I’ll be showing selections of new work from my series, Holy Ground. For more information you can visit the Bridgeport Art Center website or see more of my work at www.questionsfromthesoil.com

Open Studios
Friday, January 17th, 6-10pm
Bridgeport Art Center, Studio 4018
1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL

New website!

Posted by cassandradavis in Uncategorized and tagged with ,

It’s official! Finished my new website! So excited to have it done, I think the platform supports my work much better than what I had been using. Please check it out to see new work too!

 

Constructing a frame loom, beginning a new weaving..

Posted by cassandradavis in Film, Sculpture and tagged with , , , ,

Excited to be weaving in my studio! The loom is stretched across an old bed frame, assembled Navajo-style with rope for tension. I’m weaving several pieces for costumes to be used in a video installation. And yes, this means more mummies are on their way..

Navajo-style loom on a bed frame, using rope as the tension method.

Tying the “leashes” to lift the counter-weft.

I always seem to make out like a kid in a candy shop when visiting the Textile Discount Outlet..

Playing with color and texture.

More from the Roger Brown Artist Residency, February 2012.

Posted by cassandradavis in Illustration, Photography and tagged with , , , , ,

It’s been great to see my photographs, illustrations and collected images together on the wall in the studio. I’ve realized when I get back I need a studio space to gather my influences and old/current work together into one place. I can really begin to draw connections and understand some things that I’m talking about in my work. Also, I’ve realized there is so much to create! If someone dropped a grant in my hands today I would free myself to create everyday.

Studio wall. Mummies, Jesus, sketchbook notes.

Drawings and photos on the studio wall. I’m starting to like all of this color!

Drawings of mummies from a museum.

Drawings of mummified animals.

Close up of studio wall.

Finally getting to rescanning/editing/printing old work.

Scanning/editing negatives from Cornerstone. I haven’t posted any of these on my website, they are long since overdue for editing..