Artist Statement

My artistic processes explore the construct of memory and nostalgia associated with place (such as childhood homes), and how these constructs color the relationships formed within communities. I make photographs, videos, animations, installations, relational-art pieces, and performances that exploit the universal assumption of values in history, memory, and relationships. I am also interested in how networked experiences (such as blogging, Twitter, and GPS locating) mimic our sense of intimacy.

Many of my works focus on the domestic sphere, a space often associated with personal identity. These spaces and the objects that occupy them are imbued with idealized visions of the meaning of home and happiness in American culture. These visions include the linking of commodities with power, worth, or love, and the linking of houses (homes) with safety and status. My work both embraces and repulses these notions: objects are burdens as often as status; houses are threatening while they are welcoming.

Several series of recent works have investigated these ideas from a number of points of view. Most recently, I have investigated the idea of “home” being a transitory space, that is, a space which is simulated by certain objects, rather than a specific geographic location. One series, Wish You Were Here, uses photographs, a blog Streamin’ Dreamin’ (which includes a map with my current location), and the micro-blogging site, Twitter. I temporarily live in a micro-home (a travel trailer), and document its journey around the country, recreating an idealized version of the American Family Road Trip.

In another series, Supplication, I worked with incarcerated women on creating images of places they missed. Their nostalgic picture was paired with their own to create a more empathetic vision of the modern felon.

In 2009, I began collaborating with Jeff Eisenberg on a series of projects that more directly engaged the viewer and community, under the name M0bile Pr4ctice. As a team, we were interested in how personal economy and local community was affected by national economy, and how smaller communities compete with each other. We created three major installation/exhibitions pieces: a video game, Stake Your Claim; a table with objects we made that viewers could take in exchange for objects they made (advertised on Internet want ads), titled Swap Meet; and a video installation titled I Like Coyote and Coyote Likes Me.

My current work continues these investigations of nostalgia and value associated with possessions and domestic space, and how those values create common bonds in our community.

 

Biography

Kristen S. Wilkins spent her life in Southern California. After a few years in Indiana, she relocated to Montana where she continues to work as an artist and teacher. Her work as been shown at: Swarm Gallery, Oakland, California; Stomper project, London, England; Lexington Art League, Lexington, Kentucky; Middle Georgia College, Cochran, Georgia; Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana; Rio Hondo College, Whittier, California; California State University at Long Beach; California State University at Fullerton; 18th Street Art Center, Santa Monica, California; the Office Art Space, Huntington Beach, California; Robert V. Fullerton Museum, San Bernardino, California. Ms. Wilkins has received grants from the "Know Indiana" program, and via an artist residency at the Visual Studies Workshop. She likes to live in places where she feels a sense of history and community, with her trailer and two cats.

The work on this site is available for show or sale in limited editions. Interested parties may request a CD package through e-mail. Ms. Wilkins is also available for guest lectures and workshops in traditional and digital photography.

Contact Kristen at: kristen at kristenwilkins.com