Waiting on Pandemic
- Digital art
- 22 x 27 in
- $250
- Kathleen Sletten
I have been photographing in several genres for many years but noticed a darker element bubbling up in my production during the pandemic. I have always been intrigued by abandoned places, places with a history and an attraction not based on accepted notions of beauty or elegance. However, my work in the past few years has incorporated darker elements that are introduced by layering photographed elements and digital painting. I am purposefully constructing scenes that say something to me, but it is often not clear to me what I'm saying. I also started introducing people in my work which I have never done in the past. These figures, however, are anonymous and sad, perhaps traumatized in some way. The pandemic threw open the doors on the question of mental health in the wider society. It probably both caused and focused attention on mental illness in this country. At the level of the individual, it brought to light deep seated issues revolving around isolation, loneliness and fear of death. I am not an expert in the field of mental illness, but I think these issues have become endemic in our society and culture and are at the root of much of the mental health crisis. When I have exhibited this work in several venues, I see how deeply it resonates with viewers. People stare at these images for a long time and often want to comment or discuss it with me. I think they connect deeply with these images, even if it is not something they would hang in their living room. This makes me think there is a fog of darkness in many of us, including myself, that we don't always acknowledge - but we do recognize.
Bio:
Kathleen Sletten is an award-winning artist and photographer specializing in fine art photography and digital art. She has had her work published in “Outdoor Photographer” and “Madison Review”. Her solo exhibitions include Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, Planet Perk Café in Oshkosh, Town Square Gallery in Green Lake and the Madison Science Museum in Madison. Juried exhibits include International Exhibit of Photography, Beijing, China; Annual Nature Exhibit, St. Augustine, FL; Center for Photography, Madison, WI; and “1000 Windows: A John Muir Exhibit”, Madison. She has won many Best in Show and Wisconsin Regional Art Awards. As the current President of the oldest art club in Wisconsin, The Rural Rembrandts, she is passionate about teaching and encouraging others in their photo/artistic journeys.
- Collections: Fragility and Fortitude