Challenging traditional ideas about portraiture, Fort Point artist Sylvie Agudelo has been engaged in a long-term project to more accurately capture the essence of a person. Embedded in the intersection of science and art, the fifteen-year resident of the neighborhood explains, “I’m inspired by hybrid science-art people.” She lists Michelangelo, Lars von Trier, MatthewBarney, Vincent van Gogh, and Edgar Degas as a handful of artists whose intense focus on art and representation continues to impact her work.

She says, “A portrait is traditionally a 2-D image with people formally dressed, of a particular moment in time—you don’t really get a sense of what that person is really like, what makes them special.” Hoping for a more intimate and revealing picture, she has recently been making mixed media portraits, or “a natural history collection.”

Looking at her earlier work shows that her questions about portraiture are not new ones. From photographs of the inside of people’s refrigerators—or as she says, “another kind of portrait”—to large-scale photographs of people and landscape merging, her work continues to work toward a better language for representing personality.

In 2011, Agudelo was part of a team with James McLeod who created “Embroidered,” a public installation in Fort Point. The pair brought together text and images from contributors in the neighborhood and these elements were used in composing the art for installation. Silk-screened glass panels interacted with large embroidered cut-out silhouettes and became “A collective portrait of the neighborhood by the neighborhood.”

Installation of Embroidered, 2011

Another example of her inventive take on portraiture is the working piece that was included in a City Hall new media show in 2011. “Using 3rd party / government / institutional portraiture, the picture questions how the government sees us,” Agudelo says. “Is it a more accurate portrait because the machines have no relationship with you—because you aren't posing for posterity?”

This idea of data collection and exploration has emerged countless times in Agudelo’s career. She says, “I’m trying to figure out the algorithm of what makes us who we are,” which is precisely where science and art, and the artist’s reverence for these oftentimes competing elements, unites in her work. Describing this recent series as “Investigations into what is an accurate portrait,” the overriding question, “what do you really know about a person?” attempts to be answered by collecting and presenting elements of their personality. Rather than the stale trappings of portraiture, Agudelo’s work seeks alternate measures.

“When someone close to you dies,” she says, “you may choose to save a t-shirt, letters— things sentimental and intimate.” Likewise, her new pictures “involve the biology of the person. I’m trying to combine that with those other unguarded moments.”

The connections to artists like Van Gogh and Degas are clear, as they sought to present a different sort of truth in portraiture as well. In Degas’ case, these revealing and harsh, often unguarded and disquieting images represented a wholly unique method of capturing the essence of the emerging middle class. Often enabled by his study and use of photography, he no longer presented an idealized version of people—as his pictures sought a truer depiction of life than portraiture had allowed prior to his moment. And with Van Gogh, his drawings and paintings depict an emotion so separate from the traditional mask of portraiture, he often rendered the subject’s face completely obscured.

Continuing in the tradition started by the Impressionists, Sylvie uses alternate means for creating a representative identity in her portraits. In this regard, the scientific approach can be seen throughout her work. “Observe, collect data, make hypotheses,” is here, and the former field biologist who once lived and worked in Woods Hole says “I really want to know what makes anything tick—I can’t help it.”

Part of her current project includes capturing portrait subjects in their natural environment using video and still photography. Below is one of these stills from a video of Agudelo and fellow artist PaulLaffoley during a typical Sunday lunch. The project uses natural light and a true environment for a greater sense of person and place. She says, “I see portraiture as an extension of observing animals—some form of being a naturalist—from scientific collection.”

In addition, Agudelo’s focus on art and science in her work extends from approach into process and methodology. “I like to make my own instruments, my own filters,” she says. “My grandmother encouraged this—I am very comfortable around machines—but maybe don’t understand people as well.” Yet Agudelo’s portraiture reveals an uncanny understanding of the personal and intimate, as revealed with new methods for rendering.

While she says, “In math, in machines, in systems you string together, you can count on X + Y = Z. But with people… you get…”

And clearly these explorations only serve to provide another set of questions for the artist to answer with art. But despite their foundations in science, these works are steeped in emotion. “Maybe it’s a big part of living in the city—but I feel we are farther and farther away from one another,” she says. Even so, Agudelo’s pictures bring us closer.

About the Author: Kurt Cole Eidsvig is an artist and poet who lives and works in Fort Point. To learn more about Eidsvig visit http://www.kurtcoleeidsvig.com/

Posted by FPAC at 8:32 AM 1 comments

If you’re anything like me, when asked about the perfect combination of art and physical fitness you likely conjure thespian bodybuilder Arnold Swarzenegger from one of his various acting roles. Perhaps you picture the massive Hungarian in Kindergarten Cop, or given the season, his tour de force with Sinbad as costar, Jingle all the Way. But nestled inside the heart of Fort Point, Channel Fitness—the owner-run and operated fitness center—is paying homage to our neighborhood’s long standing tradition of the arts in a way that puts the seven time Mr. Olympia to shame.

Located at 303 Congress Street, and facing the Fort Point Channel, one of Channel Fitness’ main goals has been to become an integral part of the Fort Point Community. Managing Partner Erica Duggan explains, “Artists are the very foundation of what makes the Fort Point area so unique and it is very important to us that we develop and nurture a strong connection with that facet of the community. To do that, we utilize our large space to display the works of Fort Point artists.”

The fitness center features a rotating show of FPAC artists and in the last 6 months they have showcased three different artists. The duration of each exhibition varies and is determined by the gym and the artist. Currently on display are photographs by Fort Pointers Karen McFeaters and Larry Plitt featuring images captured throughout the neighborhood.

Above photos by Karen McFeaters & Larry Plitt

The importance of neighborhood extends into the basic operating philosophy of the gym as well. In talking with Duggan she says, “Channel Fitness brings a unique quality to the Fort Point Community that you don’t see every day in a gym. We promise that you’re not a number here. It is one of our main goals to know the name of everyone who walks through our door.” Further, the ideal location makes it impossible not to appreciate the beauty of this area of Boston. “When you walk on the treadmill or ride one of the bikes, your view is of the water and the city.”

For their art lending program each artist receives a complimentary membership for the duration of their show, with the option of an artist’s reception to launch the event. Duggan says, “We are grateful that this program has been an organic process. In one instance, the artist was already a member and in another, we researched local artists and approached them about hanging their work in the gym.” Further, Channel Fitness doesn’t take any commission on sales. “No,” Duggan explains, “we want to do this to strengthen our relationship with the Fort Point Arts Community. We feel it’s our privilege to promote the works of the artist.”

In a neighborhood that is heavy with change, Channel Fitness is a model neighbor due to their focus on art and artists, as well as their community spirit. As Duggan says, “We have developed a strong relationship with the Fort Point Arts Community. When Channel took over ownership over a year ago, we knew it was important to gain the trust and respect of FPAC so we developed an offer that still stands today—where every FPAC member pays our lowest rate of 59ドル/month.”

But don’t let their neighborhood feel and atmosphere fool you, as Channel Fitness offers top-notch space for fitness and extensive equipment. “We have some of the greatest instructors and trainers in the Boston area whose main goal is to help you get healthier,” says Duggan. “We’re owner-run and operated so if there is ever an issue, it is resolved quickly and efficiently. We have a vested interest in making this community the strongest in the region. We have just added a pay-per-class membership where you buy a class or a pack of classes. You don’t need to be a member to take advantage! We added 6 new classes to the schedule including Zumba and Combat Conditioning.”

So, you can take your pick—either blender up your art and fitness by watching Arnold and Danny Devito flirt with artistic genius in the comedy blockbuster Twins one more time, or head over to Channel Fitness and start fighting off those extra holiday pounds while you still have a chance. - Kurt Cole Eidsvig

Channel Fitness is open Monday – Friday 5:45am-9pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am-3pm. For more on the gym and their current offers visit ChannelYourFitness.com

About the Author: Kurt Cole Eidsvig is an artist and poet who lives and works in Fort Point. To learn more about Eidsvig visit http://www.kurtcoleeidsvig.com/

Posted by FPAC at 5:28 PM 0 comments

Posted by FPAC at 5:31 AM 0 comments

Big Ideas

December 9, 2011 - January 9, 2012

Big ideaas - YES, we have them. Come check out this new series of work that is a parallel to the Made in Fort Point’s SMALL Works Show, at the Art at 12 Gallery.

Big Ideas, a show of Fort Point artists’ works of grand scale. The show includes paintings and sculptures by 25 artists.

Art at 12 Gallery
12 Farnsworth St.
Boston, MA 02210 gallery@fortpointarts.org
617 423-1100

Above: Ari Hauben

www.arihauben.com

Sahara. Mixed Media. 2011

Posted by FPAC at 8:03 PM 0 comments