BITTER CANDY at Vermont Studio Center Gallery II

August 02, 2017

Bitter Candy
Curated by Shiva Aliabadi

Gallery II, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
July 26th - August 20th, 2017

Soft opening: Wednesday, August 2nd, 7p to 9p
Official Opening Reception: Saturday, August 12th, 7p to 9p

Artists:
Ayoung Yu
Brittany M. Powell
Yoshie Sakai
Steven Wolkoff
Tessie Salcido Whitmore
Casey Kauffmann
Natalie Baxter
Zac Roach
Maria Fernanda Nuñez
Shiva Aliabadi
uncannysfvalley

The exhibition and its title, Bitter Candy, deal with work that presents a very bright, dynamic surface impression-- that seemingly appears fun or colorful and playful-- but is really imbued with deeper commentary on our society, psychology, relationships, and such. Each artist in this show comes from a unique perspective that addresses this complexity of the playful revealing deeper, heavier realities, ideas, or notions. As the title reveals, while candy is by definition and production sweet, a bitter candy surprises-- with an unexpected reality, pushing the taster out of her/his expectations.

Instagram @nattybax

Twitter @nattybax

Excited to be a part of an upcoming exhibition, "Dangerously Close to Weaving" at The Rymer Gallery in Nashville curated by Pam Marlene Taylor. The show's title get's it's name from a comment she received from a college professor critiquing her fiber work, "this is good, but it's dangerously close to weaving, and that's not art. It's women's work." 🙃
I love a good spin on a negative comment - pictured, "Clearly Confused V" taken from the comment section of an article about me and my work on Glenn Beck's site, The Blaze "clearly Natalie Baxter is confused about her role as a woman." 💥
exhibition up June 1-30, 2019 @therymergallery curated by @pammarlenetaylor featuring work by @vadisturner @pammarlenetaylor @catiebeththomas @beckydickovitch @aisforavery @janaharper_ @quinnie94 @s.h.collier
#dangerouslyclosetoweaving #rymergallery #fiberart #softsculpture #nashvilleart #altcaps

Excited to be a part of an upcoming exhibition, "Dangerously Close to Weaving" at The Rymer Gallery in Nashville curated by Pam Marlene Taylor. The show's title get's it's name from a comment she received from a college professor critiquing her fiber work, "this is good, but it's dangerously close to weaving, and that's not art. It's women's work." 🙃 I love a good spin on a negative comment - pictured, "Clearly Confused V" taken from the comment section of an article about me and my work on Glenn Beck's site, The Blaze "clearly Natalie Baxter is confused about her role as a woman." 💥 exhibition up June 1-30, 2019 @therymergallery curated by @pammarlenetaylor featuring work by @vadisturner @pammarlenetaylor @catiebeththomas @beckydickovitch @aisforavery @janaharper_ @quinnie94 @s.h.collier #dangerouslyclosetoweaving #rymergallery #fiberart #softsculpture #nashvilleart #altcaps

Bar Stars, fabric, old quilt, polyfill & fringe, 26 x 26 inches, 2019 #nataliebaxter

Bar Stars, fabric, old quilt, polyfill & fringe, 26 x 26 inches, 2019 #nataliebaxter

A @plannedparenthood representative called me yesterday asking for a donation and I unexpectedly burst into tears - he put into words all of the articles, posts, and radio stories I had consumed throughout the day about the severity of these new abortion bills.

I spent last night with fellow pregnant New York City couples touring the hospital where we will all be delivering babies in a month or so. Being a white, privileged woman, I often have the luxury of feeling fortunate in this country, and sitting in the hospital conference room in the midst of these abortion bans, I thought about how much control I have had over my reproductive decisions that lead me to this moment. I felt fortunate for having moved away from a state, and a region, who's elected officials were trying to restrict my rights. I do not like feeling that I have escaped the south.

A quote from Friedrich Hegel, "We learn from history that we do not learn from history" sparked me to take a closer look at civil war iconography a few months ago, (because sometimes, a civil war feels like a place our country could be headed). I found this seal from a confederate envelope with the phrase, "Let Us Alone," words that come from The South's desire to be left alone to start their new country if they successfully seceded from The Union. I immediately thought about women's rights and the role many southern republican men play today in NOT leaving the reproductive decisions of women alone. This piece has been hanging in my studio for months now, but feels slightly more disturbing this week.

You already know what to do in this situation - make donations, call your representatives, text screaming gifs and emojis to your women friends who are likely also being triggered, post about it on the internet... but how do we really turn this around? I'm open to hearing all the suggestions. To the women living in states being affected, we see you and we want to help. And men, you're in this fight too, considering you participate in 100% of pregnancies.
#keepabortionsafeandlegal #standwithplannedparenthood #mybodymychoice #yourbodyyourchoice #letusalone

A @plannedparenthood representative called me yesterday asking for a donation and I unexpectedly burst into tears - he put into words all of the articles, posts, and radio stories I had consumed throughout the day about the severity of these new abortion bills. I spent last night with fellow pregnant New York City couples touring the hospital where we will all be delivering babies in a month or so. Being a white, privileged woman, I often have the luxury of feeling fortunate in this country, and sitting in the hospital conference room in the midst of these abortion bans, I thought about how much control I have had over my reproductive decisions that lead me to this moment. I felt fortunate for having moved away from a state, and a region, who's elected officials were trying to restrict my rights. I do not like feeling that I have escaped the south. A quote from Friedrich Hegel, "We learn from history that we do not learn from history" sparked me to take a closer look at civil war iconography a few months ago, (because sometimes, a civil war feels like a place our country could be headed). I found this seal from a confederate envelope with the phrase, "Let Us Alone," words that come from The South's desire to be left alone to start their new country if they successfully seceded from The Union. I immediately thought about women's rights and the role many southern republican men play today in NOT leaving the reproductive decisions of women alone. This piece has been hanging in my studio for months now, but feels slightly more disturbing this week. You already know what to do in this situation - make donations, call your representatives, text screaming gifs and emojis to your women friends who are likely also being triggered, post about it on the internet... but how do we really turn this around? I'm open to hearing all the suggestions. To the women living in states being affected, we see you and we want to help. And men, you're in this fight too, considering you participate in 100% of pregnancies. #keepabortionsafeandlegal #standwithplannedparenthood #mybodymychoice #yourbodyyourchoice #letusalone

natalie baxter

excited to be included in @paradicepalase's Artist Curated Cinema series for 2019! join me at Bizarre Bar… https://t.co/1MdD57bHgF
about 4 months ago
natalie baxter

last ✌️ days to 👀 WARM GUN @n2n.nyc 🔫 #nataliebaxter #nexttonothinggallery #warmgun #gunsew https://t.co/Vte9nKzbp3
about 5 months ago
natalie baxter

🇮🇹 grazie mille @vogueitalia 🇮🇹 ...all those italian classes in college and I still had to use google translate… https://t.co/R9sMLK47dt
about 5 months ago