Stacy Underwood
Artist Statement
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I sure know where I’ve been.”
I think the best art — visual and otherwise — is visceral. It comes from places of passion, joy, longing, terror, regret. And it’s bathed in memory.
In 2020, human routine shut down, leaving multitudes to adapt to living alone or behind a mask. For me, solitary confinement meant more studio time. My first attempt to “paint my pandemic emotions” featured Johnny Cash’s flip-off. Everything about it was raw . . . the substrate, the brushstrokes, the anger. I found the process surprisingly therapeutic.
Billy Idol followed. As Rebel Yell blared through my studio speaker, he gave me permission to be unapologetically angry. At times, that anger would give way to frustration, resignation, or even humor. As restrictions lifted, so did my mood. But I continued to look back, seeking solace in a time when my life was simpler and “unplugged” referred to an MTV acoustic performance rather than a cell phone break.
Life can get heavy. Art can get heady. My hope is for the Mixed Tape body of work to lighten moods and access memories.
