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JUSTIN KELLNER • Statement
Our lives are comprised of two entirely different planes or levels of being that are intertwined to create the universe we all know and accept to be life. The artwork strives to combine our two different levels of consciousness: consciousness within our mind and consciousness pertaining to our natural environment, the artwork’s intent is to enlighten the viewer on these two very different, yet linked, surrounding environments.
The first aspect of the artwork is based on the premise that everything we know, feel, and experience in our physical world is an illusion. Our living illusion existence relates more towards our state of mind when we are dreaming that to the physical world we perceive on a daily basis. In this state of mind reality, where time is cyclical and constant rather than linear, each individual thought, emotion, and action throughout one’s entire life eternally revolves an infinite amount of times exactly the same in a never-ending life cycle. At this exact moment we are unaware of this eternally revolving cycle and we are only attuned to our physical world through our many senses. The surrounding world we experience is constructed through the various stimuli received in our environment. If we are void of all our sense and are unable to perceive the world around us, are we only left with pure consciousness?
Yet at the same time, the existence of our physical world and nature is indisputable, even if it can be thought of as some grandiose illusionary deception. In my current body of work, the mixed media acrylic paintings deal with humankind’s negative impact on the environment’s various cycles that exist throughout Earth’s many ecosystems. Specifically the proposed sulfide mining in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the interrupted migratory cycles of many bird species, such as Michigan’s own Kirtland’s Warbler, which run the risk of extinction because of habitat loss, are subjects influential to my paintings. The bird’s migratory patterns have become distressed through human expansion and pollution to the environment. This leaves many species having to adapt to new unnatural habitats or face the threat of extinction. In the physical world there are issues of pollution, animal extinction, and climate change that cannot be ignored.
Compositional balance and color harmony are two of the more important formal issues of my paintings. Using an even blend of abstractions and realistic landscape elements, I attempt to weld both mental and physical environments into on combined unit. Trying to achieve the push and pull effect from abstraction to landscape in the paintings is a strong desire of mine. The addition of a physical three-dimensional sculpture on to the two-dimensional surface of the painting is also extremely important. This alludes to and further emphasizes the idea of both human states of existence and the combination of our two surrounding environments.
The intention of my artwork is to enlighten the viewer on these two very different, yet linked, surrounding environments. The artwork also attempts to make the viewer conscious of the various cycles that underlie our everyday existence.
JUSTIN KELLNER • Biography
EDUCATION
2010
Kendall College of Art and Design MFA: Painting
2007
Central Michigan University BFA: Painting/Drawing
Central Michigan University BFA: Sculpture
Central Michigan University Art History Minor
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2011
"Juried Fine Arts Exhibition", Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, MI
"83rd Regional Exhibition", Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI - Director’s Choice Award Winner
"West Michigan Area Show", Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI - Peoples Choice Award Winner
"Festival of the Arts" Regional Exhibition, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
"ArtPrize", International Juried Exhibition, Collins Art Gallery, GRCC, Grand Rapids, MI
"14th Annual Open International Society of Acrylic Painters International Exhibition"
Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA
"All Michigan All Media Visual Arts Competition", Holland Area Arts Council, Holland, MI - First Place Award Winner
"Fortified", Dinderbeck Studios, Grand Rapids, MI
"Free Radicals", 10 Weston Free Radical Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
"29th Annual Michigan Artist Competition", Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, MI
"Balance", Group Exhibition at Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI
"Merge: Grand Rapids ART:Downtown", Two Person Exhibition, 117 S. Division, Grand Rapids, MI
"Many Hands Make Light Work: Inaugural National Exhibition", Culture Works, Holland, MI
"Art League of Hilton Head’s 2011 Biennial National", Juried Exhibition, The Walter Creer Gallery,
Hilton Head Island, SC - First Place Award Winner in 3-Dimensional Category
"Emerald Spring Exhibition: National Juried Show", Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR
"Japan Tsunami Relief Art Auction", SanChez, Grand Rapids, MI
"Group Show", Portage District Library Gallery, Portage, MI
"Solo Exhibition", BRAINS Neurological Science Research Center Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
2010
“ArtPrize”, International Juried Exhibition, Plaza Towers, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Painting: The Artful Palette”, Juried Exhibition, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, Missouri
“Holland Area 47th Juried Fine Arts Competition”, Holland, Michigan
“13th Annual Winter Festival” Uptown Gallery, Grand Haven, Michigan
“A Conscious Benefit: The Artist is the Human is the Animal”, The DAAC, Grand Rapids, Michigan, All profits donated to The Farm Sanctuary, New York
“82nd Regional Juried Exhibition”, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan
“Mindshare: Art of the Bridge”. Devos Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan, All profits donated to Grand Rapids art education
“Grand Rapids ART: Downtown”, Grandville studios, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Kendall Graduate Exhibition”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Concentration”, Gallery 114, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Red Exhibition” Juried Exhibition, Kendall Gallery 602, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition”, Gallery 114, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2009
“ArtPrize”, International Juried Exhibition, 45 Ottawa, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Festival of the Arts”, Juried Exhibition, Old Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Kendall Graduate Exhibition”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Grandville Studios Spring for the Arts Exhibition”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Solo Exhibition”, Kendall Gallery 602, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Figurative Paintings”, Juried Exhibition, Kendall Gallery 602, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Landscape Miniatures”, Juried Exhibition, Kendall Gallery 602, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2008
“80th Regional Juried Exhibition”, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan
“Festival of the Arts”, Juried Exhibition, Old Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Kendall Graduate Exhibition”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Grandville Studios Spring for the Arts Exhibition”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Choosing by Chance”, Three-Person Exhibition, Kendall Student Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2007
“One Night Stand Art Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, Whitman Hall, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Bachelor of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, University Art Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
2007
“Residence Life Show”, Central Michigan University, Troutman Hall, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“One Night Stand Art Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, Whitman Hall, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, University Art Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Scholarship Recipients Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, West Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
2006
“Bronze Sculpture Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, West Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, University Art Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Scholarship Recipients Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, West Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
“Annual All-Student 2005 Juried Art Exhibition”, Central Michigan University, Library Baber Room, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
HONORS & AWARDS
2010
Muskegon Museum of Art Award of Excellence, “13th Annual Winter Festival”, Uptown Gallery, Grand Haven, Michigan
Third Place Winner, “Mindshare: Art of the Bridge”, Devos Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2006
Steven Barstow Artist Award, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
2005
Steven Barstow Artist Award, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
PUBLICATIONS
2012
International Painting Annual vol. 2, Manifest Gallery Press
2011
Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, September Edition
2010
Artist Portfolio Magazine, Online Art Magazine Winter Edition
2009
Studio Visit Magazine, Reproduction, Spring Edition
2002
Carved Marks, Publication of Student Artwork
2000
Idle Ramblings, Publication of Student Artwork
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2008-2010
Kendall College of Art and Design, Continuing Education Instructor in Drawing & Painting
Kendall College of Art and Design, Graduate Assistant, Worked under Professor Jay Constantine
Kendall College of Art & Design, Graduate Assistant, Workshop Overseer
Kendall College of Art & Design, Graduate Teaching Seminar Participant, Full Semester Course under Deborah Rockman
2009
45 Ottawa, Artprize Venue, Volunteer, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Earthwork Music Harvest Gathering, Artist Vendor, Lake City, Michigan
Bay Harbor Art Festival, Artist Vendor, Bay Harbor, Michigan
The Water Festival, Art Exhibitor, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2008
Charlevoix Art Fair, Artist vendor, Charlevoix, Michigan
Earthwork Music Harvest Gathering, Artist Vendor, Lake City, Michigan
The Water Festival, Art Exhibitor, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2007
Earthwork Music Harvest Gathering, Artist Vendor, Lake City, Michigan
Farmhouse Music Festival, Artist Vendor, Johannesburg, Michigan
Art for All Juried Art Fair, Artist Vendor, Menominee, Michigan
The Water Festival, Art Exhibitor, Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Big Art Show, Art Exhibitor, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Artist Mentor for Bronze Sculpture Class, Helped students troubleshoot to create successful bronze sculptures
2006
Central Michigan University Study Abroad Program: Drawing in Florence, Drawing onsite and expanded Art History education throughout various cities in Italy
Central Lake Art Festival, Artist Vendor, Central Lake, Michigan
