RedeSIGNED - May 15, 2009

Well, the show was a big success and a really fun upcycling experience to be a part of! The artwork spanned so many different styles and ideas about signage. I think more than one artist (myself included) would consider the sign as a medium that we will pull from over and over again in the future. Check out some of the press about the week long event @http://madnessofart.com/2009/05/14/signs-of-the-green-times/ and http://blog.bfgcom.com/?p=1751.

A quick shot of the crowd at the reception on Friday.

Me, in front of my work, enjoying the event and the wine! ;-p

"Analogy"

38" x 38"

Mixed Media

Created by Gina Caraviello

(All Rights Reserved)

I was the only artist to insert the sign in a canvas and use as text in this way. Why did I do this? The "DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION" sign spoke to me in many ways. First, I wanted to express how signs protect people. Then, I started thinking...what personally protects me? The squares (or boxes/layers), the shell, the glove, the key, the words -- all things that protect. Then the piece kind of took a different (more personal) turn with me wondering if that protection was blocking me creatively or NOT blocking me. I also thought about how I have to compartmentalize my creativity, sometimes even my feelings, until later. Sometimes, I think I block things to protect myself from emotional conflicts, sometimes it is just self-preservation...protecting from my past, so I don't make future mistakes. So, the actual part from the sign that has the editing symbol for delete over it (albeit another glorious spiral of sorts...) is wanting you to see that in the end I'm saying, "Do Block," but it isn't necessarily a negative thing.

Or at least, I think so.