"I was working outside at Crosstown Arts one evening, building pedestals for an exhibit that was opening the next day, when an African-American man came down the sidewalk. He asked what I was doing, and I explained. He said, ‘I’ve never been in a gallery before’, so I told him about the show and invited him to attend. Then he said, ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a cute young white girl. I can’t believe you’re being so friendly.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I asked him. He said, ‘Well, I’m a black man, a stranger walking by, it’s evening, and you’re being nice and not judging me.’ I said, ‘I have to walk by places in the evening too.’ He ended up coming back the next night for the exhibit. He stayed the whole time, eating, drinking, and meeting new people. I was really glad he came. I want to be an accepting human being, to take people as they are. We all experience the same emotions. If we can look past appearances and see what we have in common, I think the world would be a happier place.
"My dad was in the military and we had traveled all over, so our family was very accepting of people and open to diversity. When we ended up living in a small Arkansas town, it was a huge shock. Although people were very polite and there was a certain Southern charm, there were also undertones of judgment, intolerance, and racism. It was an interesting contrast being raised like that, but I have to tell you I was itching to get out as soon as I could.
"My art reflects my fascination with contrasts and colors, and I think it comes from my experiences growing up. I like to explore the dichotomy, the differences between things that are and things that aren’t. A lot of my work has to do with the longing for connection too: connection to other people and connection to myself. Both my brother and I were adopted, and I find it interesting how I can be genetically related to someone even though I’m not physically present with them---and how I can be so close to my family even though we are not genetically related.
"Contrast and connection are major themes in all of my work."
"My dad was in the military and we had traveled all over, so our family was very accepting of people and open to diversity. When we ended up living in a small Arkansas town, it was a huge shock. Although people were very polite and there was a certain Southern charm, there were also undertones of judgment, intolerance, and racism. It was an interesting contrast being raised like that, but I have to tell you I was itching to get out as soon as I could.
"My art reflects my fascination with contrasts and colors, and I think it comes from my experiences growing up. I like to explore the dichotomy, the differences between things that are and things that aren’t. A lot of my work has to do with the longing for connection too: connection to other people and connection to myself. Both my brother and I were adopted, and I find it interesting how I can be genetically related to someone even though I’m not physically present with them---and how I can be so close to my family even though we are not genetically related.
"Contrast and connection are major themes in all of my work."
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 Katie McWeeney works out of her studio at the Art Factory at 777 Cox, Memphis, TN (near Central BBQ on Central Avenue). She can be contacted through the Palladio Group or on FB at: www.facebook.com/kathleenmcweeneyart Instagram: @kmcweeneyart |  |
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