Matthew Finley: Fragile
December 3, 2016 – January 28, 2017
Opening: Saturday, Dec 3, 6-9pm

Fragile, a solo show featuring Matthew Finley‘s unique wetplate collodion tintypes, and 7×7 & 12×12 aluminum plates.

Artist Statement:

God, but life is loneliness, despite all the opiates the shrill tinsel gaiety of ‘parties’ with no purpose, despite the false grinning faces we all wear…the loneliness of the soul is its appalling self-consciousness is horrible and overpowering. –Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

This series has become a reflection of my own struggle with being a shy introvert who seeks connection, yet more often hides or “puts on” what I think others want of me. Anxious, self-conscious, awkward. I have made literal our societal programming to pack away those “unappealing” qualities, felt by many but hidden. In our cultural history, the person with the bigger personality and the biggest mouth is often the most prized. They are the squeaky wheel that gets greased. Those who struggle with expressing their thoughts and feelings are told they are not good enough. Or, more tragically, they are simply ignored. The “less thans”, must box away our fragile hearts, affix the correct face, and head out to try and be noticed.

Image: Matthew Finley – Her Spot In The Self Help Aisle Was Free