Strangepuppets - the art of Marie Barr

Marie M. Barr Bio

I grew up in Connecticut the youngest of 9 children. With so many kids in the house, there are few things which you get to claim as your own, and crayons are not one of them. Somehow the red is always missing, or the only colors not worn to the nub are the generic store brand that are too waxy. I turned to the family “junk drawer” to broaden my materials. Always certain to find some hideous shoe laces or some cool antique buttons and Chiquita Banana stickers. This contributed to my love of mixed media.

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Artist Statement

As an artist, I have always been interested in people. We are all strange puppets. We should be the masters of our own fate, but instead our emotional reactions overwhelm our course of action. My works are an expression of self epiphany. Such an epiphany can either clarify things in our lives or instead further confuse us. They can cause us to be braver and stronger or sometimes they defeat us.

My work expresses some of the deepest fears, inner turmoil and the sometimes unexplainable inner sadness people bear. I often express the self-doubt of the subject in my images because I feel it is most often through those moments that we discover who we really are.

Resume

Education

BFA Communication Arts & Design Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA Graduated Cum Laude

Upcoming shows

"Life Essentials" -presented by Art Whino and ILF
Sept 26, 2009- The Portals Theater, Washington, DC
Dec 2-6 2009- Art Whino: Miami, FL
Group Show

Past solo shows

Style Lounge -Tarzana, CA
2008, July 25 - Sept 15

Hyaena Gallery - Burbank, CA
2007, June 16th
Solo Show

Past group shows

Art Whino : Miami
Dec 3rd- 6th, 2009
Group Show at Charcoal Studios during Art Basel Miami

Subtext Gallery- San Diego, CA
2009, July 24- 26
Group Show "Meanwhile… at the Hall of Justice"

Art Whino - Arlington, VA
April 18th - May 9th 2009
Group Show "Inked Souls"

Eclectix Gallery - El Cerrito, CA
2009, Jan 16- Feb 22, Group Show "It's Fierce!"
2009, March 13 - April 26, Group Show "Eat It!

Distinction Gallery - Escondido, CA
2008, October 11- November 1st
3 person Group Show

111 Minna Gallery - San Francisco, CA
2008, January 25th
Group Show

ISM Gallery - Long Beach, CA
2008, January 25th
Group Show

The Saving Christmas Festival -Carlsbad, CA
2007, Dec 15th
Group Show

Cannibal Flower anniversary show
at Hangar1018 Los Angeles, CA
2007, August 2
Group Show

Untitled Love Project – Santa Ana, CA
2007, May 5th
and Thinkspace Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2007, August 4th
Group Show

Cannibal Flower - Los Angeles, Ca
2007, March Group Show

The Hive - Los Angeles, Ca
2007, March 31st Group Show

Art Works Gallery - Richmond, VA
2005, March “All Media Show”
2004, June “All Media Show”
2004, May “All Media Show”
2004, April “All Media Show”

Crossroads Art Center - Richmond, VA
2004, September "All Media"
2004, April "All Media"

Velocity Comics - Richmond, VA
2004, March “KITTYCATS...IN PERIL!”
Juror: George Pratt
First place. Cash award

Velocity Comics - Richmond, VA
2004, February "Now THERE'S something you don't see every day!”

We are all strange puppets.

“When he recovered his senses the Marionette could not remember where he was. Around him all was darkness, a darkness so deep and so black that for a moment he thought he had put his head into an inkwell. He listened for a few moments and heard nothing. Once in a while a cold wind blew on his face. At first he could not understand where that wind was coming from, but after a while he understood that it came from the lungs of the monster.“

-Adventures of Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi

Marie's pieces attempt to illustrate the pathway between childhood explorations and adult hardships. Her vision is full of hopes, failures, passion, and mirth, but always presented with a sly element of surprise. "Emotional Reasoning" presents a cryptic view of life from this incredible new talent.

-Bill Shafer
owner Hyaena Gallery