Britta Urness “Indirect Messaging”

Announcing January Artist-Member Exhibit and Opening Reception

Artist Exhibit: Jan. 4 – 29

Opening Reception: Jan. 15, 5-7 p.m.

Artist Bio

Originally from Black Earth, Wisc. Britta Urness earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. She went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts in painting with a minor in printmaking from the University of Iowa in 2008. From 2008-2011, she served as a visiting assistant professor in foundations at Michigan State University. Since Fall of 2011 Urness has held the position of academic advisor and teaching specialist, serving students both administratively, and in the classroom, within the MSU Department of Art, Art History and Design.

Urness has shown her work regionally, including exhibtions at Work: Detroit Gallery, Detroit, Michigan; MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Satellite Contemporary, Las Vegas, Nevada; Scarab Club, Detroit, Michigan; ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, Michigan; (SCENE) Metrospace, East Lansing, Michigan. Her drawings were also featured in the book “Face Figure Identity” from Sprocketbox Publishing of Chicago, Illinois.

Artist Statement

The print series “Indirect Messaging,” relies on the simple structure of the text message. Back and forth in a linear conversation, we spell out our thoughts in varying sizes of bubbles. When texting, communicants work against this restrictive format to convey their personal frustration, heartfelt greetings, subtle winks or implied meanings. It’s hard. It can go very wrong.

In this collection of prints, I’ve used this format of communication, but I’ve layered and complicated it with the static-laden textures created by the collograph process. Images and messages float in the mix, although incomplete and hard to define. I’m hoping to illustrate the process of thinking through and around any conversation, as there is nothing direct about it.