John
Henry Blatter
Blatter
uses the medium of video in his work, in various ways,
from Walkman sized monitors to room sized projections.
Blatter has created pieces as private as his family
photo album, and as public as a virtual garden that
invites the viewer to participate by placing them
within the video image. He has explored these avenues
in order to find and create his own self identity
and presence within our Cathode Ray world. In this
world
of thirty - second intervals of flashing light, Blatter
has explored his thoughts, feelings, emotions and
personality. He does this not as an artist creating
work, but as a being trying to establish a sense of
self within this diverse world in which we live.
Diversity
is an asset to us an individuals and a benefit to
society as awhole. Blatter has come to appreciate
the diversity in his own backyard, by being raised
on a vegetable farm in the rural Midwest and by working
as an interior decorator with his mother. While in
school, Blatter studied architecture, psychology,
sculpture, photography, and video, as well as studying
abroad, all of which helped to shape the ideas and
aesthetics of his work. He works with video, not for
video's sake, but as a sculptor looking for a medium
to best express his ideas. He somehow wants to share
with the viewer his experiences so that they may reflect
upon experiences of their own, vicariously through
his experiences and work.
Blatter
believes that art is not just an object or an image
but an experience that involves the sense as well
as the mind. It shapes who we are, moulds our identities
and creates individuality. He is not solely referring
to the creative process but to all the places we visit,
all the things we see and all the interactions we
have. Blatter's background and
learning experiences thus far have all helped to develop
his artistic process and work: whether through utilising
the craftsmanship and ingenuity involved in building
and problem solving on the farm, seeing how aesthetics
work within an environment through interior decorating,
learning about design and attention while studying
architecture or the cultural and learning experiences
of studying abroad.
Boxheart
Exhibition Review
Columbus
Museum Review
www.columbusalive.com/2001/20010705/07051/07050111.html
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