CONSTRUCT & ASSEMBLE

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, October 27, 5-7 pm at Open Studio.

CONSTRUCT & ASSEMBLE is a visual case study that explores social conditioning from the everyday perspective of the other – in this case, a Black person living in the American South. The title forms an acronym that provides a step-by-step guide on how to create an idyllic, homogeneous society whose citizens abide by preconceived social norms and constructs.

Adopting a style inspired by traditional print media, such as storybook illustrations and newspapers, it seeks to generate critical commentary on uniquely American ideals and universally accepted beliefs that are both implicitly and explicitly taught via schooling, advertising, and media. Rather than presenting an opinion on each of the issues depicted, CONSTRUCT & ASSEMBLE instead uses its child-like aesthetic to illustrate each term as it can be observed in everyday life. Alongside these images are a visual juxtaposition that explores what it means to construct a reality in response to, and in contrast, to the one in which we currently exist; one where autonomy, creative thought, and leaning into one’s individuality are prioritized over conforming to the status quo. In this way, the viewer is invited to explore disparities between these spaces and evaluate whether such norming constructs are necessary, useful, or harmful.

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Chloe Alexander is a printmaker who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Her most recent work focuses on creating visual narratives by layering various printmaking techniques to create mixed-media drawings and varied editions. Alexander obtained her BFA in Printmaking in 2010 and an M.Ed. in 2014, both from Georgia State University. She has exhibited work in various locations in the Atlanta area and beyond, including Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem, the International Print Center in New York, and Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in London. Chloe has also been awarded numerous awards, grants, and fellowships, including a two-year fellowship with The Creatives Project in Atlanta and the Parent Artist Award at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, CA.