Political Issues... and Opinions

I am a contributor to the Colbert SuperPac and as a contributor I have been asked "What do you stand for?"

At first I thought it would be a cinch; I know who I am, and I know where I stand in terms of my life and what I search for and need to fulfill my life. But I realized as I started to write my response that I might know what is going on in my life, I might even know something about the political atmosphere of current USA, but I have no idea how to synthesize my ideas about our domestic and global issues, and my opinions about them, in 106 characters or less... I might not even know all of the issues, or whether or not an issue I don't realize is a political one is one I find important and have an opinion about.

So here I am, researching political issues, asking questions of all sides, and writing everything down on a piece of paper.

So far, I can guarantee that I am interested these issues (in alphabetical order):

1. Abortion (ProChoice)
2. Censorship (Against)
3. Church vs. State (Separate)
4. Climate Change/Global warming (Really Happening)
5. Education (Anti-Stupid)
6. Energy and Oil (New Resources)
7. Environment (We Need It; So Fix It)
8. Gay Rights (Everyone Deserves to Pursue Happiness)
9. Health Care (FIX IT)
10. Internet Censorship (Against)
11. Patient Rights (For)
12. School Prayer (Against)
13. Stem Cells (For)
14. Universal Health Care (For)
15. Welfare and Poverty (Everyone Should Be Taken Care Of)

So there you go. It is a start. Now it is time to go talk and debate and dig down to what really matters!

Finished!!

The first part of the Boston Codex is now officially finished with the completion of these two portraits! Wahoo!!

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One & a half

Almost finished with these three. The one on the right is finished the one on the left needs one more date.

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Nerve

I finally got up the nerve to finish this portrait... I've been procrastinating too long with these three. One down, two to go.

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2011 Artist statement

“In the midst of desolation and ruin we looked back at the past…”

-John L. Stephens

There is nothing more hauntingly beautiful than the eyes of an artist observing the object from which they pull their inspiration. This I know, because I have seen pictures of myself gazing in rapt wonder at the forgotten ruins of the ancient culture known as the Maya. Well, they are not so much forgotten as vaguely neglected by the general population. Except by people like me; slightly obsessed.

In the fall of 2009, I took a course on ancient Maya art and archeology and have been hooked ever since. By the spring of 2011, I have developed ten independent pieces inspired by my exploration and adaptation of Maya history and iconography. From my first fledgling attempt at creating a Maya composition with ancient Mayan hieroglyphics in Self-Portrait #1 to my Maya Woodcuts Series I have focused on accepting Maya imagery and symbolism as my own tool for expression.

It was with the birth of The Boston Codex that I found the means of culminating the elements of Maya imagery, my character and style, and personal theme into a visual project massive in scale. A compendium of the personalities of the people in my life, The Boston Codex is an outlet for expressing relationships that answers and asks questions in an almost verbal dialogue between the pages and the viewer.

In the spring of 2011 my dreams came true when I took a travel course through my college to Guatemala. Being able to stand on top of the temples and meet the descendants of the ancient Maya solidified my passion for the culture. The trip was only 12 days, but they have changed my life. I will be returning to Guatemala for a semester abroad and I know that I have found my artistic and scholarly calling.

Taking what I have learned from The Boston Codex and my experience traveling to Guatemala my work has expanded to incorporate new mediums, new feelings, and new image mutations. Ever growing and shifting forward in time, my work is also ever looking backward through history at a culture that captivates my thoughts at all hours of every day.

-SK Hampton, 2011

My pretty new picture

I took a new photo of this piece. Its really nice!

General Artist Statement

~Explore everything around you and you might find a truth about yourself.

My whole life I have asked myself many variations of the same question: who am I? As an aspiring teacher and perpetual student, I have made it my goal to discover an answer to this question through the exploration of various art mediums, techniques, and imagery. I refuse to hold back when working with a concept or constrain myself with a certain material. Because of this I have worked in 2D mediums: such as painting, photography, pen and ink, etc., 3D mediums: such as metal, textiles, wood, etc., time-based mediums: such as performance, sound, video, etc., and several other mediums. I allow myself to explore all the ideas that come to me and stay open to the inspiration that comes from my environment, my peers, and the history of art. My work gives a hint at who I am and who I will become as I am ever changing, always growing and constantly finding new answers to the question of who I am. I believe that through a lifetime of exploring every art form, method, and material, I will achieve a deep and extraordinary understanding of who I am.

~SK Hampton