Classical POP!
solo exhibition by Hallie Rae Ward

Art for the People Gallery
1711 South 1st St. Austin, TX 78704

OPEN HOURS:
T/W: 10:00am - 4:00pm
TH- SUN: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Come on in while Art for the People Gallery is open
and either I or the Gallery Team will be there to assist you!

Or schedule an appt with me!

PREVIEW EARLY:
Starting Sept. 1st

OFFICIAL DATES:
Saturday, Sept. 3rd - Saturday, Oct. 22nd

OPENING RECEPTION:
Saturday, Sept. 10th, 12:00pm - 5:00pm

ARTIST STATEMENT

Classical POP!

As an artist and creative entrepreneur, it is enriching to dive into our master artist ancestors
through museums and media to witness the development of art practices and ideas throughout history.
I soak it all in because knowledge and awareness is power and leads to endless possibilities. 

When I think of the phrase, “Classical POP!”,
I interpret it as my version of being a person who is influenced by the lessons and greatness of the past,
while evolving and creating something new and true in the present, all leading me to grow in the future. 

I create with the freedom of staying true to myself, what is meaningful to me,
what I want to share with the world, and how I want to contribute and connect with people.
I am Classical POP!

This collection of work is my interpretation of POP ART.
When this time period was born, it challenged the more traditional processes of creating art
and used popular culture and icons as images that were relatable and recognizable to the masses. 

The definition of popular culture is "culture based on the tastes of ordinary people rather than an educated elite."
In my case, I am changing the typical use of the word and using it as
the popular culture within the psychological and physical aspects of the human race and our environments that connect us all.

As I explore the icons of the human experience with each other, with one’s self, and our connection with nature through these four series, ICONS of CONNECTION, ESSENTIAL ENERGIES, NATURE’S FLOW, and PLAYFUL & SWEET,
I invite the viewer to engage, connect, and reflect on this new definition of popular culture.

ICONS of CONNECTION Series

In this series, I explore icons that bring people together such as FOOD, ART, LANDMARKS, MUSIC & DANCE, and COMMUNITY. These are aspects of life that no matter where you are from, you can connect with people around the world.

ICON of CONNECTION : ART
From cave paintings to current day projection mapping, visual art has always been a part of the human experience and a way to express oneself and the days we are living.
In this work, I chose to create my interpretation of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. It is the most well known artwork in the world and continues to draw people in to enjoy, reflect, and question one’s thoughts and the depth of the work.

ICON of CONNECTION : COMMUNITY
Every person desires to connect with people that they can share some of the same things with. Whether it’s the connection of your roots, how you identify, or what you’re passionate about, we all need people that we can support and be supported by. The power and comfort of representation is endlessly priceless.
This artwork is my interpretation of the Progress Pride Flag by Daniel Quasar that celebrates the diversity in the LGBQT+ community.

ICON of CONNECTION : FOOD
Eating, purchasing, receiving, giving, cooking, and enjoying food is a part of life. Food shows are hugely popular these days. Everyone loves traveling and trying out different restaurants and types of food. We cherish moments of home cooked meals shared with friends and family. Learning where food comes from keeps us grounded and connected to the earth. In this work, I chose to create my interpretation of the banana. The banana is one of the most well known foods around the world. Andy Warhol also used the banana as a part of his Pop Art.

ICON of CONNECTION : LANDMARKS
The world is an amazing place full of nature in many forms. Whether you are physically traveling or traveling by images on the internet, landmarks inspire us all and give us a new perspective of what is naturally created.
I chose to celebrate one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, The Grand Canyon. Its grandeur, historical rock formations, and colorful landscapes draw people from around the country and world to bask in its glory of natural greatness.

ICON of CONNECTION : MUSIC & DANCE
When you hear a beat, a rhythm, a voice singing, instruments playing… one’s mind instantly gets into a zone and is feeling a vibe internally and is expressed externally. People will gather around and start tapping their feet and nodding their head to enjoy music. People start to move their bodies to express their feelings and to experience energy that is only found with music and dance. It’s contagious, energizing, and freeing.
This artwork celebrates the icon of music and dance. People naturally have a love for music and dance. I didn’t want to choose just one dance form or one type of music to represent here because I wanted to celebrate dance and music as a whole. The circle in the middle of the artwork represents a few things. The first form of dance was the Circle Dance and people would move to the rhythm and sounds that were created with sticks and bones. Throughout history and cultures, the formation of a circle in dance has continued on and creates connection among people. The black and white in the artwork represents music notes on a page and all of the beautiful music that has been created.
What we all have in common is that we love movement with our bodies and we love rhythms and sounds. Music and dance are a part of experiencing culture and connecting with people around the world.

ESSENTIAL ENERGIES series

This series celebrates the icon of the energy within being at peace in the mind, body, and spirit. As people of this planet, we all desire to find this peace within so that we can connect and move through this world with happiness and openness. These light beams are inspired by and my interpretation of the 7 Chakras. The chakras are energy centers within oneself that coordinate with parts of your body and have purpose and intentions connected to them. People use colors, mantras, chants, sounds, elements, crystals, and movements to open up the chakras and have the energy free flowing. 

NATURE’S FLOW series

This series embodies the iconic role that animals and nature play on earth and our lives. Everyone lives within nature and with varying living beings whether it is in vast open lands or pockets of undeveloped areas. Either way, different species are always present in a small or big way and are a part of our lives. Among the many connections we share with living beings, one of the first things we all share is our love and need for water to survive and thrive. We can also reflect on the characteristics of different species and relate to their symbolism and purpose and learn from it. It is important for a person to take time to admire the beauty, acknowledge the diversity of colors that already exist naturally, and our undeniable connection and relation with animals and nature.

PLAYFUL & SWEET series

This series celebrates playfulness and sweetness as icons in people’s lives. Whether people are in the concrete jungle or mother nature’s jungle, you can find people playing a game and enjoying some sort of treat, something special. These aspects of life that seem light weight contribute to people’s happiness and positive outlook on life. Play improves one’s mental, physical and emotional health. Eating something sweet is a reward and releases brain chemicals like serotonin that make us feel good. Of course, everything in moderation, but It is important to feel good and to treat yourself with play and something sweet.
In this case, I chose the fun experience of getting a snow cone. I grew up getting snow cones with friends and family and always cherished those moments.