ARTIST STATEMENT:

"Revealing the Unconscious" is the term I use to describe my methods of art making. When I start an art piece, I don't have a plan. I rely on spontaneity and rapid decision making. Through the progression of a piece, my choices will be developed into characters.

I've related the experience to psychological ink blot testing. I start to just drawing anything, any color or shape that comes to mind. After making many shapes in different colors and sizes, The shapes have crashed into each other and it becomes one big mess. I am left with a "ink blot" or just a blob of different colors of paint.

At a certain point, I start to see forms in the bodies paint. Majority of the time I will see human characters or animals and as I see them, I develop their identities more. I try and stay true to how they are created and leave some of the shapes that are in the original "ink blot".

Revealing the Unconscious is really about discovery. A point of realization in the mess of my intutition. After reflecting on my works, I try and understand where this energy comes from. A lot of the time I will relate the results of my paintings to true experiences in my own personal life. While painting, all these ideas will start to spill out. This could be repressed feelings coming through a different vocal chord. The characters I portray- I know how they have felt, and thats why their creation and presence is important to me.

Characters can be anything, a person place or thing- an inanimate object, or a feeling. My characters are defined by their own personal traits. The space they inhabit also defines them. A rising dominant tree cowers over the trembling, faltering leaves that were once apart of him. The narratives behind my pieces are defined by these characteristics- how they exist.

Exhibitions/Awards:
Best of Foundation- Alfred University, 2004.
Animation and Interactivity- John Woods Studios Alfred University, 2005.
Junior Painting Show- Turner Student Gallery, Alfred University, 2006.
Live Sound Performance- Holmes Auditorium, Alfred University, 2006.
Live Sound Performance- Terra Cotta Coffee House, Alfred New York 2006.
Collectively Speaking- Turner Student Gallery, Alfred University 2006.
Senior Show- May 5 2007 - May 11 2007.
Group Show- March 2008- Avenue A Sushi. NY, New York.

Publications-
2 pieces of Art published on Alfred University's art school website. 2004-2007.

http://art.alfred.edu/divisions_concentrations/painting_drawing_photo/gallery2/pages/johnstack.htm
www.nyshowreel.com- part of my internship at Solar Video Productions