Ellen
Alt
Media:
Mixed Media
Studio Location:
1010 44th Avenue, Long Island City, 11101
Room/Studio#
415
Website:
Artist Bio:
Ellen Alt’s artwork is rooted in languages, patterns and symbols. Her recent work focused on the climate crisis through a rigorous and celebratory exploration of materials to reveal the natural beauty of ice in transition while calling attention to the implications of its transformation. Ellen’s work is also grounded in her rich background in community-based art which grew out of her belief that facilitating the creative process is as vital as her studio practice. Premised on the idea of art as a tool that is accessible to all and a shared language across social and political divides, Ellen has worked for decades on community-based art projects across the globe.
She holds an MA in studio art from New York University and a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and lives in New York City.
Artist Statement:
Alt's current work is a continuation of this call to awareness and action through the metaphor of televisions and tv test patterns. These patterns typically feature geometric shapes, colors bars and other visual elements to test for color accuracy, resolution and contrast. Although they may appear as relics of the past, they mark the beginnings of technology that has led us through black and white to color, analog to digital, internet to AI. The series is about balance and viability, calibrating ourselves to live in peace with the planet.
Family TV is a sculptural grouping composed of 6 family members: Loni (mom), Phil (dad), Sky (teen), Cath (pre-teen), Zeno (boy) and Sam (baby). They are gathered together to watch the nightly news followed by the evening program. They represent nostalgia for shared content