Taylor Greenfield
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Taylor Greenfield • Statement
With longstanding roles in both ancient and contemporary folklore, animals are time-honored symbols of human morality and emotions. The myriad of expression present within any given animal species lends itself to highlighting various positive or negative elements of the human persona, and by simplifying the complexities of human individuality and society into archetypal behaviors facets of both human and animal behavior become clearer. This type of anthropomorphism not only deepens a narrative, but it also calls attention to how easily we humans project fragments of ourselves onto creatures otherwise deemed dumb beasts.
There is, however, an equal part of humanity that is repulsed by the idea of animals being capable of manners or expressions similar to our own. By maintaining that any parallels are purely fictive in nature, we dissolve the possibility that, instead of animals sharing our qualities, we may mirror some of theirs. But assigning human characteristics to non-humans does not lessen our uniqueness; it is this ability to recognize parts of our selves in other living beings that may be instrumental in determining the fate of our own species.
This body of work explores the potential ties between animal characteristics and human ideologies. I work in graphite and color washes, using varying levels of detail and distortion in regard to the size of the animals and figures. By keeping the presence of the human figure subtle, the dominant, larger animal is responsible for communicating the intended sentiment. This pairing develops into a visual narrative—an interaction based in a fervent interest in animal biology and the qualities and principles we can, or cannot, claim as our own.
Taylor Greenfield • Biography
Education
Current MFA, Master of Fine Arts, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan2007
BFA, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2009Interfluent, A Drawing Exhibition, 160 S. Division Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2003
Cumulative Works, Gerbens Loggia Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010“Festival Regional Arts Exhibit”, Old Federal Building, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“West Michigan Area Juried Competition”, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan
“Open House”, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Concentration: A Graduate Exhibition”, Gallery 114, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2007
“Secret: A Drawing Exhibition”, Student Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Wake Up Weekend” Print Exhibition, NEST, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Lightbox Tour”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Tricks: A Sculpture Exhibition”, Student Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2006
“BFA Exhibition”, 106 S. Division Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“About that Time”, Center Art Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Calvin College “Sub-Arts Show”, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2005
“There’s Something About Dirt”, 106 S. Division Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Bodies”, Student Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“New Work Sculpture Show”, Student Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004
“Painting Exhibition”, 106 S. Division Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Robert Morris X Sculpture Derby”, Belknap Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Calvin College “Spring Arts Festival, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Calvin College “Sub-Arts Show”, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Honors/Awards
2010-2011Kendall College of Art and Design Scholarship of Merit, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2006-2007
Edgar G. Boeve Scholarship, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004-2007
Transfer Student Scholarship, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Relevant Experience
2007-PresentOffice Assistant, Art Express Framing, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2009-2010
Teaching Assistant for Life Drawing III and IV, Drawing III: Tools, Materials and Processes, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2008-2010
Lab assistant in printshop, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2009
Gallery Assistant, Cascade Fine Art Gallery, Cascade, Michigan
