Comfort & Discomfort: Autumn Brown

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Author: Heather Eck (OVAC Intern)

Autumn Brown, SecurityBlanket #3 (Baby Blanket), Fibers and Found Metal , 3’x3’x2” 2011-2012

Security blanketsare supposed to comfort us; they are supposed to protect us from harm. OklahomaCity artist Autumn Brown explores her idea of a security blanket within her Concept/OKSurvey exhibition piece, BabyBlanket. In Baby Blanket, a partof Brown’s Security Blanket series,warm feelings are most assuredly not the underlying intent. Instead, what youare offered is a harsh juxtaposition between a rusted grate and delicate, wovenribbon. Brown relates this juxtaposition to the comforts and discomforts oflife itself, rousing the idea that the very things we do to feel secure mightbe damaging forces we use to blanket ourselves.

Q: What inspired you to create your Concept/OK Piece?AB: Theactual piece?  I was digging through a scrapyard. I liked the rusted grate and brought it home.  “Stewed” over it a while and then the piecehappened.
Q: Ribbon is used quite often in your work. Is there anysignificance to this? AB: I lovethe juxtaposition of soft fiber and hard rusted metal.  I am fascinated with the dialog betweensetting two such different materials against each other.  I enjoy using these materials, to express theduality that exists in our daily lives.  Ribbonseems to be one of the "more refined” versions of fibers/fabric, a perfect“match” to oppose harsh rusted metal.
Q: Has mixed media always been the media in which you work? AB: No.  Started like most artists, who start young,in 2D.  I excelled in most mediums whilestudying art in college, though I found the dark room daunting and lonely.  During my required Intro to 3D class atSavannah College of Art and Design I discovered a new world of art.  From then on I have embraced 3D art as my mainartistic pursuit.  Fiber Art (or mixedmedia if you will) evolved from there. 
Q: Can you describe the process in which you create a mixed mediapiece? What is your first step?AB: Mentally,I prepare ideas for a group of work.  Isettle on an idea and then work it into a “thesis.”  Then I start brainstorming through sketchesand research.  I run these sketches passmy thesis to make sure they match up.  Irefine sketches then make a list of needs. That is when the fun starts!  Ihead to salvage yards, thrift stores, and junk yards.  After I collect everything I “think” I will needI start constructing.  Some pieces workout exactly as I planned.  Some pieceshave to be reworked.  Then there areother pieces that come to birth sporadically during the above process.  These work themselves out a little lessstructured that the earlier but still go through a “refining” process.  Of course no matter what I am doing (cookingdinner, sleeping, laundry) I am working out ideas in my head.  


The Concept/OK: Art in Oklahoma exhibition is open to the public through February 16, 2013  at the new Tulsa Arts and Humanities Council’s Hardesty Arts Center. See www.concept-ok.org for more information.