A Portrait of a Place: An Exploration of Southern Identity

Shoshani, Maya Eliya (Maya Eliya Stein)

Savannah, Georgia: Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta)

2017-02

Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Painting

Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Painting

Works cited: page 26.

"This body of work is driven by a need to capture the true meaning of a place, to create a well-rounded portrait of a city with all its inner contradictions. In this work Atlanta’s identity is explored through its architecture, materiality and history from the perspective of an outsider. The paintings mark a culmination of a slow process of exploration with different techniques and materials to reflect the complexities of contemporary southern identity in the co-called 'New South.' My process is driven by a faith in a communal space that exists as part of a communal consciousness. This consciousness reveals itself in different vernacular forms like language, architecture and signs, which I incorporate into my work. I aim to communicate with the viewer, in particular the local viewer, by using cultural signifiers that evoke a common space or hint at a familiar setting."

Keywords: meaning of place, portrait of a city, architecture, materiality, history, contemporary southern identity, vernacular, cultural signifiers

CHAIR: Brown, Michael V.

Francis, Tom

Bodnar, Stephen

English

Painting

Text

PDF : 26 pages, color illustrations

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