about
Lynn Yarne: born 1983, lives and works in her hometown of Portland, OR., has many interests including but not limited to: things felt that can’t be described, things known that are best left unexplained, unexplainable feelings of longing or attachment, an unexplainable sense of loss, animals, and wonder.
Artist Statement
If there were a middle ground
between things and the soul
or if the sky resembled more the sea…
John Barryman (Dream Songs, No 385)
Over the last few years my work has gravitated towards dualities; black vs. white, morbid vs. attractive, detail vs. vacancy. Of most interest to me in the past few years has been the contrast and connection of subjects based in concrete experience to subjects based in abstract ideals (feelings, ideas). I find that increasingly my drawings have situated themselves between abstract and concrete both conceptually and aesthetically.
From duality I have begun gravitating towards a concept of middle ground. More so, I am interested in the process of finding within concrete experiences and things the connection to ideals, emotions, and other abstractions that are spiritually relevant. I am interested in the idea that concrete things have the capacity to trigger emotional or spiritual response. Certain places, for example, evoke for me nostalgia or comfort. Even a man-made thing can trigger a spiritual response; something such as art. I am attempting to approach this investigation through the concept of “wonder.” The word “wonder” can be defined as a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. Or to say that wonder is a thing that is felt when something outside of ourselves triggers a very inane and significant something within ourself. My current work is an investigation of the capacity to discover spiritual relevance outside of ourselves. This, noting the spiritual relevance available in all things.
