Meredith Pardue, one of Louisiana's hottest contemporary artists in the art world today (soon to be one of Austin's own!) was in town last week for her latest exhibit entitled "Unbound (Seven Parts of a Rainstorm)". The show opened in our gallery Thursday evening to an enthusiastic and receptive crowd. Thanks to all who joined us, including Meredith, the show was a success, and a memorable evening for all.
Afterwards we sat down with Meredith for a lovely conversation about her work, her inspiration and some insight into her life as an artist. Enjoy...
Meredith PardueMeredith Pardue: I don't think I ever decided to become an artist. I have always painted, and throughout my life it has been the only thing that I have consistently loved and practiced.
JMF: How would you describe your style?
MP: Abstract. The canvases are composed of organic forms that are similar to, and possibly even derivative of, those found in nature, but ultimately the paintings are a visual record of an unplanned dialog between myself and a blank canvas. The marks and forms create a language that reads as something unique to each viewer.
JMF: Where do you find your inspiration?
MP: Music, nature, visual art, weather, human relationships, the general dynamic of living.
JMF: Which artists do you admire and how have they influenced your work?
MP: Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Tom Waits, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Motherwell, Jack Pierson, Peter Paul Reubens, Bob Dylan, Franz Klein, Stevie Wonder, Agnes Martin, Joni Mitchell, Robert Rauschenberg, Alberto Giacometti, Richard Diebenkorn. There are so many more, but those are probably the most significant in terms of influence on my work.
I am certain that somehow fragments of what I encounter through sight or sound and the emotional response that accompanies any meaningful experience with a work of art, manifest themselves in my work. That sounds vague, but it is just so subtle and intricate the way things combine together to form something new.
JMF: What’s your favorite medium?
MP: I use oil and water based media on canvas, linen, and paper. I love them all.
JMF: Could you talk a little about your latest series of paintings, “Unbound (Seven Parts of a Rainstorm)” ?
MP: The paintings address the freedom found in chaos, and the clarity that ultimately emerges from scenarios that previously, in their high energy, appeared disorganized. The drips in the paintings occurred at the beginning of the painting process, and I delineated each form in the composition as it sort of emerged from the mess. So, the process of how these paintings were made speaks of the content.
JMF: You are a mother of two - how do you juggle parenting and painting?
MP: I just dive into each day face first. I don't think the work I do is any more demanding than what other working mothers do. I set regular office and studio hours for myself, and I feel panicky and nervous if I am not working really hard during those hours. I do not sit down until I get in the bed at night.
JMF: What do you do when you’re not painting?
MP: Spending time with my boys, running, reading, yoga, taking care of the one of the many living things in our house. And I am learning how to cook.
JMF: Any words of advice you’d like to pass on to aspiring artists?
MP: Have a disciplined daily studio schedule and stick to it. Deliver what you promised when you said you would, and you are already ahead of most other artists. Keep the old ego in check...nobody likes a crazy artist. Your work is also your passion, so a moment of gratitude here and there is probably in order.
Unbound (Seven Parts of a Rainstorm) - on display in our gallery through November 30, 2009. See the whole series here. See more of Meredith's work here.
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