ART GALLERY
THIS IS A RABBIT, KEIN UNSINN.
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: April 21st 2023
dimensions: 36" x 24" x 1 & 1/4"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: The subject of the painting is a "rabbit" according to my youngest son (who was 3 at the time), Justice. we were walking through the breezeway of our apartment building and a frog was hopping across the entryway. He pointed at the frog and simply said, "rabbit" and me and his siblings laughed because it was very cute. we assumed he had called it a "rabbit" because it also hopped (like a rabbit). a few weeks later, we saw another (or possibly the same) frog in the breezeway and my youngest daughter, Bella, said, "look justice, a rabbit" and pointed at the frog so he could see what she was talking about. he looked at her, and said very seriously, "no, that's a frog." we were a little thrown off because he had not long ago identified the amphibian as a "rabbit" but now was very certain it was not a rabbit. she said, "oh, i thought you said that was a rabbit." he said to her, in a very matter of fact sort of way, "no Bella, frogs say, 'rabbit rabbit'". which of course, was even cuter. the perceptions and misunderstandings of the way my child viewed the frog in the breezeway was harmless enough, what seemed to us to be an error of my son, was actually an error of our own instead. this is something that is important to me personally because when misunderstandings happen; they are not always harmless and unless questions are asked and more information is gathered things can get way out of hand very fast. Harm can be done and in my family's case; it has been. the composition, color palette, and brushwork is meant to be whimsical and full of joy to provide the viewer the sense of happiness the story behind the painting brings me.
LESS THAN HUMAN TRYPTICH
artist: K. Lauren Witte - date created: October 4th 2023 - dimensions: each piece - 12" x 12" x 1/2" - Materials used: Acrylics on canvas
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concept: inspired by the quote "Fundamental violations of human rights always lead to people feeling less & less human. –Aung San Suu Kyi" this exhibit includes three separate silhouettes of a woman crying. the choice of monochromatic colors with contrasting highlights set a somber tone, and the use of the negative space suggests the woman is fading into the darkness, losing the sense of her humanity as she is further deprived of her human rights and freedoms. the rough surface & sketchy brush marks are suggestive of the conflict the woman is experiencing in her life and lend to the misery of that conflict.
GLIMPSES OF ABUSE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: April 28th 2023
dimensions: each piece - 18" x 24"
Materials used: crayon on newsprint
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concept: when an act of abuse occurs, the victim rarely is able to advocate for themselves about what happened and are often misunderstood. the conflict is traumatic and may have been quickly ended and so the victim may struggle to communicate how bad it really was to the appropriate individuals which can lead to the perpetrator being deprived of the recognition they truly deserve. this exhibit was completed as two separate 5 minute sketches which offer a visceral "glimpse" into the jarring and violent acts depicted. The harsh lines and simple color palette remove any uncertainty, or subtlety, that may alter one's perception about what is really occurring and remove any need for speculation or interpretation that may otherwise diminish the alarm they elicit.
TRASHED.
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: December 9th 2022
dimensions: 36" x 24" 3/4"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: this exhibit reflects the condition of heartache. the texture is raised and jagged in places, containing bits and pieces of old paint which was scraped onto the wet paint demonstrates scarring and damage, both literal and metaphorically, caused by painful experiences and traumatic events. the coloring is layered, starting with bright and joyful colors but eventually covered with various muddied and darkened shades to speak to the loss of the joy formally kept. Compositionally, it is chaotic and pieced together again speaking to the ways trauma effects the structure. the violent and sporadic brushwork elicits the sense of desperation and panic one suffers while trying to cling to hope and remain positive despite a lack thereof.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: May 11th 2023
dimensions: 16" x 20" x 1/2"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: the composition is provocative and intended to provoke a sense of chaos and conflict for the viewer. the color palette is simple because the concept in and of itself is simple. the subject of the work is the conversation had between myself and the caseworker who recently was involved with my family. The idea that an individual meant to promote public trust in the department's abilities to protect children from abuse and neglect has such a negative opinion about the way the department is viewed which is expressed with such certainty is disturbing to say the least. my response to her repeats in the background to demonstrate how, in disbelief, it plays over and over in my head as I attempt to fight for my family. the rawness of the piece, with untouched spaces of canvas still showing demonstrates the lack of control and ability the parent when such a conversation takes place. it does not matter if they disagree, it does not matter if more is needed, it does not matter if it is appealing or appropriate, when dhr(cps) says it is, little else matters. it suggests that no one else will get involved anyways so they know their effort is not even necessary.
HANDLE WITH CARE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: May 10th 2023
dimensions: 16" x 20" x 1/2"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: this work was a reproduction of a work I created in high school. the complementary color palette was used in the original piece. the lettering is modeled after a graffiti like font but is obscured by the blue crossing lines meant to mimic running paint as if spilled on the work as the result of hurrying. the title of the work "handle with care" is indictive of the need to avoid making a mess of delicate work. when a report is made about suspected child abuse or neglect, the matter is delicate and must be investigated with careful consideration, when it is not; it causes harm. it causes waste.
PRESENT & IMPENDING DANGER
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: June 20th 2023
dimensions: 15 inches in diameter, 4 inches tall
Materials used: recovered rotor, acrylics, & polyurethane
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concept: when a a report of suspected child abuse and neglect is made, careful attention must be given to the circumstances that caused the report to be made and to the family itself. the law clearly defines how investigations are to be conducted because the most important component of discovering the truth is the information surrounding the event reported. when the caseworkers fail to comply with statutory protocol and rely on bias presumptions the child may be placed/left in an environment which is dangerous. this rotor is rusted and worn; not safe to drive on whatsoever. this exhibit is demonstrative of what danger a child can be exposed to when the work is not done; when the duty to protect is neglected because of bias and presumption. There could be a life ending crash at any moment and it can be prevented. the belief if that it is better to "err on the side of caution" but given the concept presented here, would you say this is the more "cautious" approach? or would you agree that it is worth it to ensure short cuts are not taken and children are only removed from their homes when it is CLEARLY NECESSARY?
PLAIN & SIMPLE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: July 16th 2023
dimensions: 18" x 24" x 1/2"
Materials used: acrylics on canvas
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concept: THERE IS LITTLE EXPLANATION NEEDED FOR THE CONCEPT OF THIS EXHIBIT TO BE UNDERSTOOD. I COMPLETED THIS PAINTING ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE WRONGFULLY REMOVED FROM MY CUSTODY DUE TO THE NEGLIGENT ACTS OF THE CASEWORKER WHO INVESTIGATED A REPORT MADE FOR MY FAMILY. the primary colors used were purposeful and indicative of the simplicity of the message. the brushwork is aggressive and bold, applied in a hurried and panicked way because the emotion tied to the message is exactly that. the day this work was completed was a painfully difficult day, it was chaotic and a struggle due to the overwhelming rage I felt but could not otherwise express due to the way I have been portrayed. it is paradoxical entirely to believe that a parent who loves and cares for their children, who has done nothing wrong, can be expected to remain calm and "patient" during the process of proving their innocence. the reality is that when a parent truly loves their children and would do anything to protect them, that does not simply change because the person who has effectively kidnapped their children carries the title of state employee. if they are wrongfully kept from their child, should they not be considered reasonable if they fight and react with violence and determination just as if the thief were a practiced criminal? moreover, if you could imagine that tomorrow a stranger suddenly steals your child without cause, or fairness, or reason, i doubt that you would remain calm and "be patient" but if you did not you would only make things worse for yourself. it is maddening and will cause panic and desperation, but you dare not show it lest you want to make things worse. see? a paradox. the exhibit means to provoke the viewer to feel the conflict felt that day. plain and simple pain and anger.
CIRCULUS IN PROBANDO
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: oCTOBER 1OTH 2023
dimensions: 20 INCHES BY 20 INCHES
Materials used: ACRYLICs ON CANVAS
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concept: this exhibit represents the "circulus in probando" or the "vicious circle" fallacy. it is the paradoxical situation created by an argument made in which the premise is unproven and yet it is used as though it is has been, so "P" is used to prove "p^1, p^2, P^3, and so on" but the fact remains that until "P" is actually substantiated as the true solution. the paradox comes into play when it is later claimed that "P" is proven based purely on the fact that it successfully solved "p^1,P^2, P^3..." without any further actual proof which can lead to failure later when and if it is wrong. This exhibit offers a visual representation of this concept by begging the question, "could one successfully argue what colors were used to create the 'black' circle in the center?" was there only 'black' used to create the circle? was 'black' even used at all? are there layers of colors creating the illusion of the color 'black'? are the layers added on top of an initial layer of 'black' or visa versa? the bottom line is one could make whatever arguments they saw fit, and they may be convincing and believed by the majority, but, until questions are....
NO ILLUSIONS HERE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: August 24th 2023
dimensions: 16" x 20" x 1/2"
Materials used: Acrylics on canvas
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concept: this exhibit is a play on the old 3d "illusion" posters from my childhood (the 90's). the ones that you had to stare at for (what seemed like) ever and focus while letting your eyes "un-focus" so that they blurred the image as a whole because only then could you see the dinosaur or whatever the secret image was. as the work came together, it also became reminiscent of a stained glass window which played into the choice of brushwork used, creating the look of the connected segments of brightly colored glass used to create the final image. The complementary color palette is one that provokes intense energy and laughter, to elevate the message that is hidden in the piece. the message in and of itself antagonizes the viewer to humor because, unfortunately, the message is one that it seems everyone already knows all too well. the idea here is that while a truth may be concealed through intricate design and manipulation of ones perception, it can not stay hidden forever. more often than not, if you want to see the "truth" all you need to do is take a step back and take a good long look at the entire picture. after you see it, you have a harder time ignoring it than you do seeing it again and again.
MY RIGHT TO RE"DRESS"
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: May 26th 2023
dimensions: length - 22"; waist - 12" diameter
Materials used: loose canvas, heavy duty thread, fabric, Acrylics, zipper
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concept: this exhibit references U.S.C. 1985 which gives a us citizen the right to redress after a violation of a liberty provided to them by the us constitution. it is a skirt constructed of raw canvas and fabric with a unfinished edge and covered with the fundamental liberty which I have been deprived of; the fourteenth amendment or more specifically the rights of the parent. it is covering the entire surface of the skirt so that when worn, my rights are easily observable and difficult to ignore. the colors used set a patriotic tone to strengthen the importance of the words so that, again, they are hard to look past. they are bold and aggressive because they have been overlooked too many times already and the intent is to bring attention to them in a way that is uncomfortable for those who motivated the creation of such a confrontational piece in the first place. the belief is that it will be harder to steal something that is right out in the open as opposed to something that is out of sight.
THE REDUNDANT PSA
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: October 1st 2023
dimensions: 18" x 24"
Materials used: Acrylics, pencil, pen, coffee, on newsprint
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concept: this exhibit was inspired by the posters of the 1800s warning slaves to be cautious of those who were granted authority to catch and kidnap them. the message of caution here is to parents and the warning is one of caution about child protective services workers who have in a twisted way become to parents the same sort of threat as the one to slaves. just as there were individuals that did not believe in equal treatment then, there are individuals who do not believe in it now. the difference is the disparity crosses all racial boundaries and is driven by pure ignorance and corruption. the law, while sound and simple, is blantantly disregarded far too often and threats to the welfare and safety of families routinely become actual harm and are disguised as 'good work'. the color palette chosen evokes the sense of urgency and "use" as if the poster has been hung over and over again to ensure the message is made known to all. the truth is that this is the mindset of parents who have already experienced the wrongful conduct of DHR/cps and if you speak to a parent who has been wronged by this agency/department, this is the general message they will provide to you. therefore, this exhibit is an homage to the desperation those parents feel as they fight to protect their families and warn others. the words chosen are abrasive and much more direct with regards to the way the workers are labeled, but they are not words that would surprise or shock any person, it seems as though society is completely aware of the problem; so I felt it was time to simply come out and state it openly and without fear. no point in beating around the bush any longer. enough is enough. we must look out for one another until something is done about the problem.
THE WITNESS ACCOUNT PROXIMAL TO ANNIHILATION
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: January 20th 2023
dimensions: 12" x 24" x 1/2"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: this exhibit is in memory of the individuals close to someone struggling with addiction. the poem was one I wrote to pay respects to the difficulty involved in watching someone you care about sinking further into the darkness and being consumed by it. the color palette inflicts on the viewer a sense of mourning and deterioration which represents the loss of the person who is subsequently being lost to the addiction itself. there is a danger for someone who clings tightly to another who is being sucked under, if they are not careful, they can get caught and taken down too when the emotional toll becomes too much and negatively impacts their own happiness. it is a difficult place to find yourself in, do you walk away and let your loved one be consumed? or do you chance being consumed with them because you refuse to leave them suffer alone? a habit, or addiction, is often misunderstood to mean something "illegal" or "criminal" but what about the addictions society has given a green light for? like shopping, tanning, or even drinking? an argument could be made that the addictions that we think of as "normal" are truly the most dangerous. if a person has heart disease, but can not give up their fast food diet, are they not killing themselves just as fast as the person who has a crack addiction? or even faster since they do not see it as a taboo thing to do because so many other people have the same problem? addition is truly just a habit that negatively impacts ones life which can not be surrendered despite the harm done by it. it is about the harm not the habit. the lettering and negative space in the work speaks to the simplicity of the idea. when habit is, then habit is. it is a choice and until it is relinquished; it will always continue to be.
FEEL SOMETHING
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created:
dimensions: 16" x 20" x 1/2"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: this exhibit relates to the deterioration of the love and life of a parent when they are deprived of their right to a relationship with their child. the music of life melts away and you start to see the functionality diminish. the longer this goes on, the more loss there is. the color palette reflects the emotions felt, sadness, despair, anger, rage, excitement (but more in the sense of panic and restlessness rather than happiness). The brightly colored instrument is brought to the foreground to represent the importance of the relationship and of its destruction. the background is more obscured but melting nonetheless just as the guitar is. the brushwork is chunky and layered since there are multiple layers of said relationship which all diminish separately and at their own rates the longer the deprivation lasts. if one were to restore the instrument from this condition, they would be able to do so if they were willing to rebuild each piece to its original condition which would require more effort for some more than others.
THE CONDITION OF THE "POST DHR" FATHER
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: October 3rd 2023
dimensions: 25" x 12" x 2"
Materials used: used parts from a guitar
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concept: this exhibit is a stand alone piece of purely conceptual art being that it is comprised of nothing more than the damaged components of a previously functioning electric guitar. it represents the result of undue and unfair pressure that is placed upon the loving father as well as the loss that father experiences because of said pressure. despite the guitar being functional previously, as pieces are stripped away, it loses its ability to do the one thing it is meant to; create music. even though pieces can be replaced, sometimes the damage done is simply not fixable. this particular guitar has a neck which has become warped due to prolonged pressure being applied to it causing it to become permanently damaged. this speaks to the all too often permanent harm caused to the father's ability to effectively participate in a child's life as the result of "prolonged pressure" being put on him. whether by way of damage to his reputation, or damage to the way the child views him, the damage is done and rarely can be undone. it is unfortunate. it is avoidable. it should be recognized and accounted for.
SURVIVING THE SYSTEM
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: June 1st 2023
dimensions: 23" x 18" x 23"
Materials used: mannikin bust, life preserver, wire, plastic tubing, acrylics, epoxy, polyurethane
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concept: this exhibit is an abstract 'self-portrait', if you will. the mannikin's eyes say 'kein justice' because she sees 'no justice' as she tries to navigate through the complex and unfamiliar legal system she was thrown into suddenly. tears of red, white, and blue run down her cheeks and continue to run down to her heart without ceasing as she passionately mourns the loss of her 'allegedly' constitutionally protected rights. it runs down and through the 'war paint' she dons while she engages in a 'battle of will' with those who mean to oppress and accuse her, who mean to harass and intimidate her, who mean to deprive her of justice, her family, her freedom. her lips are stitched shut because she has been silenced during this fight, across the stitches are all the accusations she hears if she dare to speak despite no one wanting to hear it, the wounds around the stitches are red and inflamed because she does not mean to let them 'heal'. on her brain are all the thoughts going through her mind as she fights the false allegations, the traumatic effects of the abuse she has already survived and worked to heal from, and as she attempts to design some sort of strategy to effect the outcome in a monumental way and successfully end this whole ordeal; once and for all. the different regions of the brain change the way the thought is communicated and reflect that regions specific function. the life preserver vest ...
THE SEAT OF KNOWLEDGE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: October 10th 2023
dimensions: 30" x 40" x 3/4"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: this exhibit is my interpretation of how the fundamental truths that form the basis a person's belief system are passed on to our children and their children. we hold most relevant the beliefs which become significant to us based on the experiences we have which is why we all have different standards for success and survival. we choose what we take away from the experiences we have, positive or negative, and we choose how we want to pass it on. the vintage desk is covered entirely in all the truths I wish to pass on to my children. truths such as: why protecting yourself is crucial, what it takes to protect yourself and how to do it, why protecting others is crucial and what it takes to show compassion while still ensuring you are safe from harm, what it means to strive for better, what it takes to get it, how to have enough control over yourself so you keep it, and that true intelligence is being smart enough to know that you always have something to learn. Some were formed, others were found, all have proven necessary. the color palette is reminiscent of the early childhood classrooms, where core learning begins and the most rudimentary lessons are introduced. the lettering is graffiti-like and meant to mimic the messages often found scribbled on desks.
THIS LIBERTY
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: October 10th 2023
dimensions: 30" x 40" x 3/4"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept: the exhibit was inspired by a quote from b.r. ambedkar that provokes society to take a more active role in creating positive change. being able and willing to recognize the issues that exist in a controlled and thoughtful way, allows us to use our intellect to determine what is actually needed to adapt and move forward. the background is made up of fragments of reds, whites, and blues to symbolize the complexity and dysfunction within our justice system while recognizing the beauty created by the good intention that brought us to a point where we can say "change is needed" calmly and without fear. the lettering is meant to appear as if it were captured "mid-thought" in order to suggest to the viewer that it is meant to be developed and brought into reality. the size of the work speaks to our ability to speak about controversial topics in ways that are acceptable and worthy of admiration. most of the time, we avoid talking about "uncomfortable subjects" because the conversations can become heated and overcome with the anger that prompts them, but if we never have these conversations, how can we ever expect anything to improve? having the freedom to say whatever we want is wasted if we never do anything good with it. this quote looks towards a better future, one where the issues of the past are just that because we confronted them and worked together to address them.
SELF-LOVE
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: may 5th 2023
dimensions: 16" x 20" x 1/2"
Materials used: acrylics on canvas
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concept: this exhibit was compositionally modeled after an inspirational
OUR OBLIGATION TO EACH OTHER
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: May 15th 2023
dimensions: 18" x 18" x 3/4"
Materials used: Acrylics on Canvas
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concept:
FROM THE ASHES TRIPTYCH
artist: K. Lauren Witte
date created: May 26th 2023
dimensions: center - 48" x 24" x 3/4" sides - 24" x 12" x 3/4"
Materials used: acrylics on canvas
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concept: THIS EXHIBIT IS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR LIVES BURNED TO ASHES AND THEN HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN. THE PHOENIX IS REBORN FROM THE ASHES AND LIVES ON. the monochromatic