Heather Harvey Artist Talk

Beneath, Behind (2007)

Heaver Harvey is a visiting professor here at St. Mary’s College of Maryland as well as a sculpture and installation based artist. Educationally, Harvey is passionate; she got a B.A. Anthropology in 1993 and an M.A. in Archaeology in 1997 as well as a B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking in 2003 and an M.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking in 2007. However, since 2003 she has been working on various installation shows and projects all around the United States. Harvey’s most recent installations include “Blue Ghost Revisited” a site-specific installation in 2009 in Lexington, VA, “Fractious Happy” a solo exhibition in 2009 in Wilmington, DE, and most recently “…into this honeyed presence strewn” which is a solo exhibition in 2010 in Wise, VA. Since this past exhibition Harvey has accepted a position at St. Mary’s College of Maryland as the professor of paint and printmaking.

Harvey’s installation pieces focuses specifically on the “power of quiet, hidden things, the things that nobody’s noticing, the hidden infrastructure of our lives” (Website). Her installations embody aspects of sculpture, painting, as well as drawing. By working directly on the wall, Harvey is able to change the walls from a simple space to something much stranger and less anticipated. While in the artist talk she asked herself what her work means. And replied by saying, “It doesn’t mean anything, you (as the viewer) choose your meaning, there is no message”. However, she remarked, “If I do not explain my work to the viewer they will assume the main meaning is based on how the work looks, esthetically”. Essentially, she is creating these strange installations that extend off the wall however unless she gives some explanation they will be seen as purely esthetic. This being what she does not want.

After looking at many different pictures of Harvey’s installation work, it has gathered my attention no more then her talk did. The way she comes up with her ideas is rather fascinating however; this is simply just not my cup of tea. I can’t grasp her ideas and understand these hanging objects. Although this is my opinion I will say that it is a very creative and interesting group of idea. Other than that, these works of art are a little to out there for my.

www.heather-harvey.net/installationStatement.html