From the Cranberry Farm to the Art Studio, our talk with Alexandra Carter

I first met our current guest, Alexandra Carter, when she was 19 years old and an intern in a place in Boston called the Mills Gallery. That period of my life was interesting for a couple of reasons - both of which are related to this podcast. For one I was becoming intensely interested in contemporary visual and installation art at that time because I was starting to see a spiritual connection between the different art mediums. For another I also stared hanging out with and seeking the company of actors, filmmakers, performance artists and sculptors too, even doing piano performances in visual art settings like galleries in addition to the normal bars, restaurants, and clubs. (The theme of the connections between all of the arts of course is a dominant one in this very podcast). As a result of this shift in my consciousness I purposely sought out the company of artists who were not necessarily musicians, in particular what we would call the "fine arts". At that time I was aware of Alexandra's interest in painting but little did I know what would emerge from her talent and hard work some fifteen years later. One of the things I most admire about her work is her steadfast commitment to the figural and representational. Though it is quite abstract in various ways, the human figure and story is very much present in her work. I also like very much how her work grows directly out of her own personal experience and biography and appears to foreground these in a fearless and expressive way. I very much enjoyed this episode. It was an opportunity to discuss certain aesthetic matters I don't always get a chance to discuss and to do so in a relaxed and welcome environment. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did creating it.” Artist’s Statement: My work is an exploration of the psyche in the form of painting and drawing influenced by print media, collage, and performance. While riffing on themes of gender, fairytale, and masquerade, I play with the relationship between control and catharsis, visualizing the body coming out of itself, exposing not only one’s guts but one’s internal state--one’s emotions, one’s craziness--in a way that can seem both pleasurable and painful. I draw from my personal background (especially my origins on a cranberry farm in New England) as well as literature, mythology, dance, and costume. Links to Alexandra's Works: Website:https://www.alexandra-carter.com/   Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alexandracarterstudio/ For an extended biography and deeper look into Alexandra's works, please visit our show Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/journeyofanaesthetepodcast