Mixed media assemblage art on a panel: papers, paints and mediums, tools, brushes, and castoffs.
A dimensional, cohesive piece that incorporates painting with found objects, both man-made and natural to reveal a story
Item details
Price
$2,500.00
Quantity available
0
Dimensions
Product
Length/Depth: 2 in
Width: 24 in
Height: 38 in
Package
Length/Depth: 4 in
Width: 26 in
Height: 40 in
Shipping
Option to pick up the product in person instead of shipping
Delivery and pickup restrictions may apply: We can deliver in Atlanta, GA area
Refund & return policy
No refund or returns allowed on this purchase.
Exceptions may apply. Please message Athlone for more information.
Athlone Clarke was born in Jamaica in 1956. He immigrated to the United States in 1985, and as with most immigrants, almost everything that had been familiar to him in the past ended up being been stripped away in order to make room for the new reality. This provided an opportunity of reinventing himself while tapping into the other basics of day-to-day survival. The one thing that had remained constant from his childhood was the desire to paint. During these early years, and in between odd jobs, he rediscovered his brushes and began on a much deeper immersion in the arts, a sort of baptism by fire. Over time he began to realize that for him to go from being a hobbyist to being a professional artist, he would have to embrace the very frightening prospect of living totally and completely on his creative ideas and effort. As he states, “ I kinda had to learn to walk my talk”.
Having developed an interest in the Japanese folklore of tsukumogami, Athlone began to see objects around him with a different eye. He believes that objects have memory and energy. The ability to tap into both is crucial to his expression. His mixed media work often includes whatever material is available to him at the time. While in the creative process, he sees each object as having their own unique story and perceives his role as a kind of choir conductor who brings all the different voices into one melody.
Clarke believes with great conviction that there is no “have to” in art. “Spontaneity and experimentation across the different mediums is where it’s at for me, even while I accept that in some cases, spontaneity may require practice. To follow any kind of script would be a slow, torturous death for me. When I’m done working on a piece, I like the surprise of finally being able to step back, and it feels like I’m seeing it for the first time. So creative freedom is everything to me, and because of that, I absolutely refuse to participate in the building of any kind of prison in my creative space.”