J.M. Culver: Where Back When

Large-scale paintings by J. M. Culver reconstruct the past and explore new perspectives in generational storytelling with narratives that vary from the mundanity, absurdity, gravity, and humor of life. These intimate paintings take a look into the transitory nature of memory, inconsistency of perspective with mental illness, and the ownership of stories and secrets.

Artist Statement: My paintings reconstruct the past and explore new perspectives with generational storytelling. They are personal interpretations of my grandfather’s stories, both lucid memories and surreal moments skewed by his altered mental states from schizophrenia. My large-scale paintings explore the transitory nature of memory, the ownership of stories and secrets, and the inconsistency of perspective with mental illness. These narratives depict scenes that range from mundanity, absurdity, gravity, and the humor of life. They represent universal themes of the human condition and of life at its brightest and darkest points. A video documenting my inspiration and creative process for these paintings will also be on display for this exhibition.

Artist Bio: J. M. Culver is a contemporary figurative artist that creates psychological narratives with universal themes. She explores figuration and abstraction through a combination of painting and drawing. Prominent themes in her work are identity, the transitory nature of memory, and personal allegories that give an intimate and tangible glimpse into the human psyche. Culver attended Syracuse University in NY for graduate studies and holds a BFA in painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She actively exhibits her work, which is held in private collections internationally. Culver lives and works in Minneapolis, MN.

J. M. Culver is a fiscal year 2015 recipient of an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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Note: This show will run concurrently with Jody Williams: Circumstantial Evidence at Augsburg's Christensen gallery.