Written by Nicole Gaudier
Overstreet Ducasse ‘s work Famiy Tree will be in the Our Shared Past exhibition, on view in the Stein Gallery from December 17, 2013 to May 25, 2014.
Statement by the artist:
Overstreet Ducasse, Family Tree, 2013, from all the film stills, Mixed media
“While creating, my primary purpose is to produce a composition that is both as stimulating to the eyes as it is to the mind. There are no
boundaries to the mood or theme I have attempted to portray. While most of my works exhibit a social, political, religious, and even educational view, I am also known for displaying a cynical, and satirical view. These views are often displayed in series with individual themes such as Astrology, Biblical laws, Hip-hop and Mathematics.
Fascinated by the origins of thought, I expend as much energy with the initial idea as I do with the final result. I don’t necessarily have a clear idea from the beginning, but discover the path along the way. It is all part of the process, a process not limited by medium or style but influenced by the patterns and materials I acquire along the way.
Most of my works are rendered using a vast amount of material, from canvas to wood and even metal. However, there is a consistent pattern in each individual painting that makes it recognizable. I enjoy working with perspective, shadows, and Trompe-l’œil, the art of fooling the eye. All in the hopes of not just making you look, but also making you think.
For this particular project, I set out to create a family tree of Jefree Shalev. This includes his great grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. Each person is portrayed by a piece of wood and is embellished based on the person’s character, job, history, or passion.”
There will be artist appearances at the Stein Gallery January through April. Each Saturday, artists from the exhibition will be in the Gallery from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Others will make appearances throughout the day on Weaver Free Saturdays, and on Tuesday evenings during the exhibition.
