Kit Reuther’s space was
filled with sunlight and bright canvases when I visited her at her home that
she is temporarily using as her studio. Her use of formal elements like shape
and color were worked into canvases, made into sculptures, visions manifested
in both two and three-dimensional platforms. We sat down over coffee and I waslucky enough to learn about her work.
What is the
theme of your work?
I don’t
really approach work with a specific theme in mind. To say I have a theme would
sound as if I actually know what I'm doing! Often I will just start a
painting with an idea as simple as a single color that I've been curious about.
How does it translate in paint? Is it as good on the canvas as i've
imagined in my head? As I proceed to answer these questions, the work
then becomes an exploration by trial and error. Formal issues inform the
process: composition, scale, mass, line, etc. Things rarely go as
planned, but I have come to appreciate and even rely on unpredictable outcomes.
What
inspires your work?
I don't
recall ever being at a loss for inspiration. I take in a tremendous
amount of visual information (or inspiration as the case may be) from the
everyday and mundane. It can be exhausting! Everything around me
represents potential and I probably have several hundred ideas and sketches-
mostly on post-it notes, but I rarely ever need to refer to them. I think
they are like a safety net for me, in the event that I ever reach a visual
block.
I am also
inspired by other creative people in my life. They are like fuel for me,
and it helps to know there are others out there wrestling with the creative
process. Artists like Jodi Hays are good at bringing folks together, and
those interactions help energize the hours of isolation in the studio.
What are the
goals for your work?
I continue
to push myself to make things that feel fresh and challenging. I get
bored easily, but fortunately right now I have a backlog of new ideas,
especially with my sculpture, and I am excited to get started (when my
sculpture studio warms up!). I have been asked to participate in a group
show this summer in which all of the artists are using the medium of cardboard.
I also have a solo show this fall at David Lusk Gallery in Memphis, so
that pretty much sums up my goals for 2015.
What are
your thoughts on the Nashville arts scene?
Well, I
found myself crawling on hands and knees through an art pod maze a couple of
weeks ago, so Nashville is certainly offering a more diverse art experience! Where
we go from here is anybody's guess. I am encouraged every time I hear of
a new art venture, whether it is the announcement of a new gallery, pop up, or
co-op space. Exposure is important in maintaining the growth of our art
community alongside the overall growth of the city.
Kit is represented in Nashville and
Memphis by David Lusk Gallery. To learn more about Kit’s work please visit http://www.kitreuther.com
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