Artist Statement

My recent paintings are created from observing still life arrangements of strips of paper.  The format of my work is largely horizontal, and the strips of paper provide the dominant horizontal forms and lines.  My goal is to create deserted, quiet and contemplative spaces. The paper is used for its simple lines, strength and malleability. We live in a culture where we are rapidly approaching a “paperless existence”; therefore I find the need for the paper to speak of the discarded and consumed object.

Living by the water my whole life, I find a minimal landscape to represent a space of meditation, contemplation and reflection, especially within my “Monoprint Series” and printmaking process. The calmness and tranquility of a horizontal line, and the vast open spaces, represent a balance in nature and can likewise provide a balance within one’s mind. Throughout my life, I have often turned to silence as a catalyst for reflection and worship. Whether in prayer or other daily events, a short time of stillness is needed before I enter my work. These pieces serve as reflections for contemplative thinking. I create these landscapes through physical and invented encounters. The energy produced by silence allows for the mind to be clear and for us to become silent observers.

Kevin Calisto