These pieces were selected as “canvases” for the AOL Artists program. On my AOL Artists page you can select any of these pieces to feature on the AOL homepage. For more information about this work and availability please email me: tom@tomburtonwood.com.

AOL Homepage, 04/10/12

I am pleased to announce that my work has been selected to join the AOL Artists program. Please check out my AOL Artists page, where you can see the three canvases they selected and a number of my other pieces, plus bio information and social media links. My wife Holly Holmes was also selected for the program you can see her AOL Artists page here. From our artists pages you can select our canvases to adorn the AOL homepage each time you visit their site. We’re both really excited to be part of this program joining several artists whose work we really admire including fellow Chicago-based artist Cody Hudson, UK-based illustrator and artist Matt Lyon, Brooklyn based UK-artist Jon Burgerman, Mike Perry and Siggi Eggertsson. Big thank you to Nikki and Erika and everyone from AOL for making this happen.

Images are always open to interpretation. Artists and designers use signifiers to send coded messages to the viewer about how the work should be read, understood and placed in context. Data and information surrounds and envelopes us. Nothing is inherently neutral. With this series “four letter words” are displayed in my custom type face. They are both arbitrary composition and verifiable bits of information. Each word is transposed via the title into a small string of numbers and using this key we can decrypt the images.

All are Archival Inkjet on Moab Entrada Rag Paper, 2012, Ed. of 5 plus artists proof, 12 x 12 inches

Downcast Eyes

Downcast Eyes takes place at the MCA, 220 E. Chicago, on Tues., March 20, as part of the MCA’s Internet Superheroes series. The public is encouraged to participate. TAGTEAM and twohundredfiftysixcolors will give brief presentations at 6:30 but participants should show up by 6 p.m. More information can be found on the MCA’s website.

Short mention on Triblocal about the artist’s talk and demo from last Saturday with Patrick Lichty.

http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/galleries/2012/02/oak-park-artist-tom-burtonwood-at-maze-library/

Saturday February 18th, 3pm – 4pm

Oak Park Public Library
Maze Branch

845 Gunderson
Oak Park, IL 60304
708.386.4751

Tessellations , Technologies, Techniques: 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at Maze Branch. I’m giving an artist’s talk today with my colleague Patrick Lichty in support of my current exhibition at the Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch. I’m going to  demonstrate the digital fabrication methods and technologies I used to create the reliefs in my recent installation “Tessellations.” Additionally we’ll be demonstrating how to create a 3-d scan with a MS Kinect and print this scan with a Makerbot 3-d printer.

Tessellations, solo exhibition at Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch, February 4th - 29th, 2012

Tessellations
Solo Exhibition by Tom Burtonwood
February 4th – 29th, 2012

Tessellations - Composition 5.6 - animated gif

Oak Park Public Library – Maze Branch
845 Gunderson
Oak Park, IL 60304
708.386.4751

Tessellations is a series of painted constructions combining identical V-Pleated paper surfaces with different Masonite structures to create small sculptural gestures that evoke architectural forms or sails. The geometric stands are comprised of smaller parts laser cut from larger sheets of Masonite. These support structures are painted in subdued colors so as to disappear and afford the pleated surfaces lightness and grace.

Juxtaposition is an important characteristic of this series. Playing volume against mass, chromatic with monochromatic, hard-edged geometry in concert with chaotic painted rhythms. Each pleated surface is constrained to its support structure two or three times with connecting pinch points. Forced to adapt in this manner the pleated surfaces arc and bend in dynamic curves. These tessellated forms are augmented and accentuated by the different painterly approaches.