EXHIBITION STATEMENT

Introduction

Memories are how people preserve the past, how they hold on to loved ones, events, and places. While memories are intrinsically related to the places where they are formed, it is not clear how these places reappear in the memories that they help create (Meyer, “In the Brain, Memories Are Inextricably Tied to Place”). Through drawing a series of buildings that hold significance to the artist, this project will explore the relationship between memory and place. The buildings depicted are Franklin’s Restaurant, St. James Catholic Church, Crossover Church (South), and the Riversdale Mansion, all located in and around Hyattsville, MD. 

​

Literature Review

Psychologists call the linking of ideas to a specific place episodic memory formation (Meyer, “In the Brain, Memories Are Inextricably Tied to Place”).  Episodic memories coupled with repeated visits cause particular places to hold special significance to individuals. In terms of conveying this significance, Visual aids, such as drawings, have been shown to be effective at communicating ideas (Rasul et al.) because art and memory are strongly correlated, and art can be used in education to enhance aesthetic perception (Rosier 17). 

While these scientific concepts are understood intellectually, trying to convey nostalgic significance in a visual art piece is challenging. Memories are often described as blurred, foggy, and incomplete. Artists like Joshua Flint and Lars Ellings capture this effect through the use of blurred paints around faceless figures. In a series of paintings intended to depict memories from her past, artist Rebecca Campbell created paintings that look simultaneously realistic and slightly out of focus. The effect of this style was “like you're looking at pictures from old photo albums and only remembering the emotions that have passed. (Yoo “Painted Memories (16 Total)”).” The current project builds off of these artistic principles. The drawings created in this project will use a similar technique to Campbell, appearing more realistic from far away but less refined up close. This will mimic the imperfection of a memory as well as highlight the struggle between concrete and abstract that all memories have. 

Methods

The main method used in preparation for the project was archival research into the original use, community significance, and designs of all of the buildings to be drawn. To choose what views and aspects of the buildings to capture, reference photos were compiled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with several people from the Hyattsville area to better understand how others perceive the buildings. The drawings were done largely in pen. The darkness and finality of the pen strokes reflect the set nature of the past and memories of the past. However, to mimic the feeling of a memory in the drawings are unfinished. Some of the drawings fade into pencil and others have portions missing. This technique is used to mimic the fleeting and uncertain characteristics of memories. 

Audience

The target audience for this project is anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how places shape memory and anyone who has nostalgia for the buildings of their past. However, the work may resonate in particular with Hyattsville residents who may have personal memories and feelings associated with the buildings depicted.

​

Impact

The process of completing my Capstone project showed me a lot about how I work creatively and has led me to be more comfortable with my creative process. It has also helped me feel more connected to the area I grew in and has really made me look at both my memories and their backdrops differently.

Resources

Meyer, Robinson. “In the Brain, Memories Are Inextricably Tied to Place.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 13 Aug. 2014, www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/in-the-brain-memories-are-inextricably-tied-to-place/375969/. 

Rasul, Saima, et al. “A Study to Analyze the Effectiveness of Audio Visual Aids in Teaching Learning Process at University Level.” Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier, 12 Dec. 2011, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811024554. 

Rosier, James Tyler, "Art and Memory: An Examination of the Learning Benefits of VisualArt Exposure" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 436. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/436 

Yoo, Alice. “Painted Memories (16 Total).” My Modern Met, 17 June 2016, mymodernmet.com/painted-memories-16-total/. 

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Heather, who did an excellent job of taking my jumbled ideas and helping me turn them into a project with a purpose. I’d also like to thank my peers and neighbors who allowed me to interview them for this project as well as my Mother who consistently reassured me that my drawings look like the actual place.