CAMILLE AUDETTE
Camille is from South Kingstown, Rhode Island. In addition to URI, she has attended Parsons Paris in Paris, France, as well as The Marchutz School of Fine Arts in Aix-en-Provence, France. Traveling and living abroad, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and working a series of odd jobs have all allowed Camille to use her background in art and art history as a lens to understand the world. She is passionate about independent thought, alternative movements, and countercultures. Much of Camille’s inspiration comes from studying individual and shared life experiences, nature, and the human condition, especially how these subjects pertain to feminist, environmental, and human rights issues.
My goal as an artist is to be expressive across different mediums, at times combining them together in one work. I draw from various inspirations, raging from abstract to literal, often dealing with broad ideas regarding identity and authenticity. I attempt to narrow the subject down, materialize, and synthesize something as a means of physically exploring it. I do this in order to pose a question, evoke a feeling, or simply explore an idea in greater depth. Some recent subjects have been feminism, human nature, and time. I frequently use paint, fabric, and photographs to visualize ideas. As inquiry is at the core of my work, my artistic process typically begins by taking an introspective approach. The initial idea is then researched and contemplated in the context of history and materiality. The finished work aims to represent a personal perspective, results from research, or further questions that I still do not have answers to.
New Canvas / Weighted Blanket is a product of my experience making quilts, which began at a young age when my mother and grandmother taught me to sew. The tradition of working with textiles and quilting begins with women around the world who have perfected the skill time and time again. Containing intricate patterns and messages, each quilt has its own story. Yet, the art of quilting has been disregarded as just a hobby… women’s work. The quilt I’ve sewn is out of garments that I’ve worn; slept, worked, sweat, and cried in. Areas of fabric become primed and stiff once they are covered with layers of gesso. The quilt is a tangible result of the patriarchal burdens we bear as a people. What would the world look like if women dictated it? What would the art industry look like if women’s experiences had not been marginalized since the beginning of time?
New Canvas / Weighted Blanket, acrylic paint on fabric, 90”x90”
