August Artist of the Month: Tress Turner

TRESS TURNER IS A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST FROM NEW ORLEANS WHOSE ARTWORK IS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF MIXED MEDIA, FOUND OBJECTS, RECYCLED WOOD AND WELDED METAL. WITH HER TALENTED SKILLS AND IMAGINATION SHE IS ABLE TO TURN THE KALEIDOSCOPE INTO A VISUAL TRANSLATION OF THE SOUTHERN CULTURE. HER WORK IS CREATED IN A RAW STYLE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE FOLK ART AND OUTSIDER ART MOVEMENTS. EACH PIECE IS A ONE-OFF VISCERAL CREATION.

TURNER’S WORKS PRESERVE AND PHYSICALLY TRANSFORM MEMORIES BY GIVING NEW LIFE TO FOUND OBJECTS. HER PIECES RANGE FROM THE BRUTALLY HONEST AND SIMPLE, TO THE WHIMSICAL AND ORNATE. AN ARRAY OF COLORS AND TEXTURES, INTRICATE WITH PERSONAL MEANING, LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR INTERACTIVE VIEWER INTERPRETATION AND EXPERIENCE. THIS UNDERLYING INTERACTIVE COMPONENT CAN ENGAGE A SMILE, PROVOKE A FORGOTTEN MEMORY, CONFRONT TRADITION, OR STIR UP EMOTION. THE ONE THING YOU CAN EXPECT IS HER ART WILL ALWAYS BE PEPPERED WITH A SPICY, IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR. EXPERIENCE.