Through the Mosaic by Christopher Whitehead and Michelle Madison
March 2 2020 - August 1 2020
This exhibition features the work of Baltimore County Arts Guild artists Christopher Whitehead and Michelle Madison. While both artists focus on portraiture, they approach their subjects in unique ways. Whitehead enshrines his subject through the medium of hand stitching, a process that demands careful devotion, time, and energy. Madison captures fleeting moments of action, thereby preserving her subject’s individuality. The attention paid to each portrait leads us, as viewers, to question the subject’s significance to each artist.
I encourage you to see the artist through the portraits they have made: Who are the subjects? Why did the artist choose to capture them? Which features did the artist choose to focus on? How do we see the subject through the artist’s lens? What do the answers to these questions say about the artist?
It is an inherent part of the human condition to strive for self-understanding. In an effort to comprehend how we exist in conjunction with others, we hope to better perceive ourselves and the role we play in our surroundings.
I often say that we are reflections of our surroundings, like a mirrored mosaic that we incorporate into our very being. It is between these mosaic tiles that our true selves shine through. Each subject is a tile in the artist’s mirror mosaic. Looking through the artists’ eyes, we are able to see how they perceive their environment, which elucidates the lens through which they view the world.
I hope you enjoy this work and can reflect upon the way we view others and how that perspective changes when you look through the eyes of Christopher and Michelle. I encourage you to evaluate which mosaic tiles you carry with you and how your surroundings play a role in your self-perception. Through this reflection, we are closer to understanding our ever-changing selves.
Christopher Ray Whitehead
Christopher Ray Whitehead is a classically trained artist who primarily works in painting, illustration and alternative media. He has studied and exhibited throughout the United States and Europe. His work focuses on the human form and the art is used to illustrate personal narratives and concepts. Christopher has a passion for teaching others about art and artmaking. He has taught art in public schools in California and Maryland. Christopher served as Youth Art Manager at the Worcester Art Museum for seven years. Christopher has also served as President Elect, President and Past President for the Massachusetts Art Education Association and the Maryland Art Education Association. Christopher has also designed and built the websites for both Massachusetts and Maryand Associations. He was recognized in 2012 as Massachusetts Museum Art Educator of the Year and in 2013 as Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year and in 2018 Maryland Art Educator of the Year. Christopher is currently the visual arts teacher specialist for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Executive Artist of Infinity Pond Studios.
Michelle Madison has been taking photographs since she was 10 years old. Early on she learned to value “quiet time” and in that time explored the beauty of the world around her, camera in hand. That made her happy and peaceful. As an adult, she decided to share that peace and beauty with others in hopes that they would experience that same feeling. Her photography has been seen in corporate, private, public and gallery settings. Her art has been on tour throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Michelle’s first exhibit was in 1998 at the Community College of Baltimore County at Catonsville. She has emerged as an accomplished photo artist demonstrating excellence in a wide range of subject matter. Her portfolio has expanded to include scenic, architectural, abstract, black and white works, wedding and portraits. Michelle won a Baltimore Sun photograph of the Week award. She is a member of the Baltimore County Arts Guild and resides in Halethorpe, MD. Her works can be seen on Facebook and Instagram.
