Collective Behavior
Maggie Evans
ARTIST STATEMENT
Western art has long emphasized the uniqueness of each human being. But beneath these independent identities and myths of rugged individualism lies our deep, intrinsic desire to be part of a group. The group provides security and comfort, but it is also vulnerable to manipulative leadership, oppression of independent thought, and exclusion of those seen as “others.”
Using hundreds of simple, uniform chairs I create drawings and site-specific installations that examine this propensity towards collective behavior and its resulting power structures and homogeneity. Uniformity and repetition are more important than individuality in my work. Yet simultaneously, we are vaguely aware that each chair represents an individual. Though reminiscent of organized, ritualistic gatherings, the specific purpose of the chairs remains undefined and irrelevant, further emphasizing the sheer ubiquity of our collective behavior.
BIO
Maggie Evans is an artist based in Savannah, Georgia. Using drawing, painting and site-specific installation her work examines human collective behavior and the hierarchies, homogeneity and social divisions that result.
Maggie’s work has been included in over fifty national and international juried exhibitions and a number of art publications including New American Paintings and Manifest Gallery’s INPA 6. Artist residencies include The Hambidge Center for the Arts, Central Trak in Dallas, Texas and a full fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center. In 2011 she was awarded a Chinese Government Scholarship that granted her ten months to develop new work at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China. She has had thirteen solo exhibitions and been invited to lecture on her work at a number of institutions including Indiana-Purdue University and the University of Texas, Dallas.
Maggie holds an MFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design (2008) where she is a part-time Professor of Foundation Studies. In addition to her work as an artist, she performs regularly as a professional jazz singer and bassist.