Patricia Izzo

ARTIST STATEMENT for BALANCE - PATRICIA IZZO • <back>

The Process of creating and being inspired by another artist and medium was incredibly challenging. The purposefulness that the artist is engulfed in as we create does not always lend itself to surprises. We create at times from a secret place way within, covering our own tracks in this life with our art. Being a 2D artist and working with a 3D artist was a breath of fresh air.
It was interesting that Jeri Hollister's sculptures of graceful, strong, refined horses led me down a childhood path. Early fascinations with Aesop's Fables, Brothers Grimm, Mother Goose and of course Disney influence my work. I had a beloved rocking horse as a child and occasionally a big Sunday outing was riding the ponies at Elizabeth Park. Horses were amazing creatures to a child. I knew I could use them within a fantasy theme.

The choice to use Alice in Wonderland encapsulated the concept of balance for me. Alice grew small and then large, trying to find the right height, the right place, the right path, the balance. I used the Alice reference as sung by Grace slick in White Rabbit as a jump off point to finding a balance in ones life. I began to create a series of three images. The first 'Alice ' One Can Make You Smaller' created an out of balance swirling world with the rabbit hole looming in the image as she begins to shrink and swirl .
The second image was inspired by Jeri's first set of turquoise and red iron horses. Alice tries to hold on to the two iron junk yard antique horses weathered and left in the elements. Jeri's statement reveals that the red iron glaze was earth and fire and the turquoise glaze was air and water. This Second Image, 'Alice ' One Can Make You Larger' suggests that Alice is not steadying the horses and is still off balance as she grows larger.

The third image was inspired by Jeri's second set of black and white horses. Using the much loved black and white rocking horse, I created the final image for the Balance Project. Alice is flanked by the rocking horse and the curtseying child. She stands in the middle, arms outstretched straight, finally balanced. The child and the rocking horse represent her own childhood. She begins to leave them behind as she emerges from the rabbit hole. A young woman, who finds her place, her path and her way out of the rabbit hole. She is now balancing on her own terms.
I thank you Jeri for this challenge. I am a Fine Art Photographer. I do not use a digital camera. I use film. The essence of film photography is that the risk to capture the image is shared by all who participate. The artist and the subject instinctively collaborate. As we begin to create, an intense synergy builds between us. We, the artist and subject create an energy that is not limitless. We have but a few frames, moments, seconds to create art.

A roll of film has 36 images available - a mere 36 chances to capture the magic.

Patricia Izzo
Feb. 24, 2010
Medium : black and white fine art photography: film