Tuesday, August 19, 2014

a studio visit with caitlin t. mccormack

Ex Sanguine

last month i had the opportunity to visit the studio of local philly artist caitlin t. mccormack as she prepared for her solo show, 'interhaven' opening at paradigm gallery this friday.

caitlin, a bit smaller than myself, arrived to open her door to me in a bright lisa frank t-shirt. a little silky slip of a black kitten slept deeply on her couch as i settled into feeling comfortable enough to withdraw the eye of my camera & document the landscape caitlin had built for herself. her home, like my own, and nearly every other studio i have visited during the years i worked for hi-fructose was freckled with books. odd objects of inspiration; bones and bell jars and tiny pieces of personal debris were netted together to build a home, to build a place to work quietly in solitude, a place to feel safe. the lingering presence of the quay brothers was found in many a corner and beneath the wilder mann book, max ernst's collage novel, ( & my own personal bible) 'une semaine du bonte' waited like a favorite letter, worn and loved.

like most of the work i am attracted to, there is a certain amount of somberness imbued in these captured skeletal bodies, each formed from long threads which are un-coiled from a spool in caitlin's hands, beneath her quick fingers & hooks. she began this work after losing both of her grandparents, who passed away within months of each other; her grandmother who taught her how to crochet, an inherited, repetitious act of creation & her grandfather who carved life-like bird sculptures. their inspiration is seen in both the medium and the form of her work, beautiful testaments to those beloved.

 at the heart, the work is a testament to these loses, perhaps behaving as conjured ghosts, poetic gestures of antaomy, forever in an inanimate sleep, delicate & honest in the silent tales of life and death they tell.

for currently available work & news about friday's opening, visit here. 
for more insight into the ideas behind her work, visit here.


Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Umbrella Sentinel

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Crawlspace

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit

Caitlin McCormack

Caitlin McCormack

Caitlin McCormack Studio Visit


*supplementary images of the finished works via paradigm gallery*

7 comments :

Unknown said...

Absolutely exquisite. This work gave me chills.

Unknown said...

Love. The work, her space, your photos...they're touching and beautiful.

Unknown said...

great post, and photos.
Shes an amazing human being, Ive always enjoyed her workings.
didn't know you had a blog, or even did these excerpts on other artists. Great idea, you should write a book. discovered you through Claire (spookula) and Sam.
putting my exorcism & demonolatry studies aside briefly this evening,
to read more of your writings. Best -

cultusillusionanima said...

fascinating. such an extraordinary combination of material and subject.

Sister Shirley said...

Stunning, gorgeous and heartbreakingly intricate work. LOVE the photos as well!

Anonymous said...

The work, her space, your photos... nachttischlampetouch.blogspot.de

Anonymous said...

Amazing craftsmanship and talent! <3 I absolutely love these!

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