Kate O'Connor (Halifax)
Open Studio artist in residence
May 17 - June 20, 2009.

During her time at Struts Gallery, Kate O'Connor will be working on a body of large scale paintings.

Her work examines the false sense of satisfaction we derive from material goods and domestic stability. The human desire to succeed and impress is met with situations that are on the verge of collapse based on personal goals that have not been met. The subject or object appers in the ubiquitous public or domestic setting and represents the absurdity in the importance we put on everyday routine, lifestyle, wealth and success. Her goal is to depict the loser in everyone, the dark moments that we all have when trying to function in society, the opportunity for the absurd in everyday situations and point out the very fine line between humour and tragedy.

Thursday June 18 at 7pm
Kate will present a talk called Stop Apologizing: Common sense for Canadian Artists.
This will go along with a friendly Gyoza dumpling making session.

Kate hopes to debunk a few myths about working in the field of commercial art, and help people in their own methods of self-promotion.
‘You can be confident without being arrogant, I hope I can help encourage people to put themselves out there, and stop apologizing!”
says Kate, who will also be talking about her experiences among Americans at Yale. These encounters have lead to her analysis of,
what she dubs, “The Canada Complex” which she will undoubtedly touch on during her talk. “I want to try and tell a bit of my story, as well
as explain how a person can get ahead as an artist in the Atlantic Region and make some money!” elaborates Kate. Included in her ideas
will be viewpoints about deciding what you want, forming a strategy to achieve it, and creating a consistent body of work.

June 18 at 7pm
Kate O'Connor's Artist Talk and Gyoza Extravaganza!