Artists’ Talk, Liz Morrison & Nick Stull
Paintings
Handmade Book
Artists’ Statement, Liz Morrison & Nick Stull
Vessel Verses is an exploration of vessels and the stories they carry. In these works, both figures and objects serve as vessels: boats and coats are physical vessels that hold the person, whereas the individual is a conceptual vessel that holds the self, mind, and spirit. Together, they narrate the traveler’s physical and philosophical journeys through life.
Reflecting the show title, vessel verses is also a collection of printed media and poetry that explore the idea of the vessel. Both the exhibit and book are organized into sections that begin with “vessel vs…” These chapter names each identify an element from which a vessel creates separation: a boat separating one from the sea, or a coat separating one from the air.
Weaving multiple styles and media emphasizes the separation of the vessel’s interior from its exterior environment. Dimensionality is conveyed in deep, pictorial spaces, interrupted by flat surfaces and patterns. This conflict between space and surface formally flattens the picture plane, drawing the viewer’s attention to the painting’s objecthood. The canvas itself becomes a final vessel in this show’s story.