I make art to satisfy a daily need to be involved in the creative process. I also teach art in the Rye City School District in Rye, NY. My two professional roles are inextricably intertwined.
Before 2015, cut paper was my most frequently used medium. The abstract bird-like shapes that emerged from my scissors in the 1990s symbolized freedom, energy, flight, and sometimes constraint - important themes as I stepped into adulthood. I abandoned representation in the 2000s and developed abstract cut-paper compositions from shape, color, texture, line, pattern, space, and rhythm. Though I did not stop making art, by 2015, my creative energy shifted to new opportunities.
The missing portfolio years - During the 2015-2016 school year, my Rye students and I engaged in efforts to support art programs for children in global conflict zones. By the 2016-2017 school year, those who were interested in maintaining the initiatives gathered off-campus for bi-weekly meetings. We launched a 501c3 global arts nonprofit called the Big Picture Foundation (BPF) that empowered children from diverse backgrounds in 32 countries to use the arts for local, national, and global community-building endeavors. The children of all faiths who participated came from public and private schools, refugee camps, and global youth programs. Instead of making my fine art, I designed posters, logos, and other materials for the benefit of our unique global network. BPF accomplishments were points of pride for all involved, but on the last day of July 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer. Disease temporarily depleted my creative energy and disabled my ability to function. The Rye Arts Center heroically stepped forward to acquire the Big Picture Foundation, giving me, the founding members, and our steadfast supporters hope that the nonprofit would thrive in perpetuity.
Over the years, my practice has changed, but I never stopped attending art exhibits. My newest work draws references to other artists' work. It’s art about Art. I have moved away from the labor-intensive paper collages of my past. I’m considering new techniques for pulling images from my sketchbook and iPad onto art boards and canvases.
Contact: kimtamalonisart@gmail.com