2018 E.A.S.T ARTIST HIGHLIGHT | Alie Jackson
Alie Jackson
We're exploring the world of the dozens of local artists featured at MMAC’s 2018 EAST gallery and their mediums. The goal of this series is to shed light on real-life Central Texas artists exploring what & why they create.
You're an instructor with us as well as an artist exhibiting in our EAST show this year. For those who aren't familiar, tell us a little bit about yourself and your craft!
Alie’s Snapchat series Powered by the People
I'm a Multimedia Artist and Art Director from and currently located in Austin, TX. I make art using a range of mediums like painting, collage, animation, video and augmented reality. There is an intuitive nature to the way I work. I try not to plan anything out and see where the process takes me. When creating a body of work, I like to define the medium first and then explore different variations of color shape and subject matter.
Your art is very experimental at its core. What drew you to work in these mixed mediums and integrate tech with art?
I am a curious person by nature, so experimentation is part of my process.
For instance, using Snapchat in my series Powered by the People, I took a tool that people use every day for social media and "beautification selfies" and created art with it. I paired each digital experience with a tangible piece of 2D art for a pop-up installation. Because of its digital nature, it has allowed the work to exist outside of a traditional gallery setting and into peoples hands where millions of people around the world can experience it on their terms.
“I think the biggest question I always ask myself is How can I push boundaries and do something no one else is?”
Experimental Animation: Rush Hour Rituals
I've seen some of your work in the past, and so I know I'm really excited to see what you have in store for EAST. Tease us with a little info about what we have to look forward to in November!
Most of my work up to this point has been purely abstract and formalist. It's been a visual representation of my interworkings and subconscious. In the past few months, I have started making work that explores themes relevant to the socio-political climate of being a woman in Texas in 2018 while still maintaining a strong personal aesthetic.
Check out more of Alie’s work on her website!
ABOUT BIG MEDIUM’S EAST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR:
Big Medium's East Austin Studio Tour (EAST) is a free, annual, self-guided art event spanning two weekends in November. EAST provides opportunities for the public to meet the artists and artisans of Austin in their creative spaces.