Lynette Montgomery

Artist Statement-Soliloquy

This body of work grew from an interest in recapturing a sense of playfulness and experimentation in my studio practice. As a strategy to encourage that, I decided to choose a simple, everyday object and explore a variety of approaches. The object I chose was the plastic rings that hold beverage cans together. I was drawn to this object because it seemed contradictory to me, representing both ugliness (in terms of their impact on the natural world) and beauty (in their shape and translucent color.) I began to play with them in lots of different ways. I drew them. I photographed them. I painted them. I took classes in Photoshop and Procreate so I could ‘build’ different kinds of images with them. I cut them up, and then cut them out into silhouettes. I made collages with them. In 3 years, I still have not exhausted the possibilities that the rings present. I want to create metal stencils, and have them laser cut. I want to cast them. I want to build something with them. This body of work is still evolving and It has by no means been a linear path. It takes off in different directions, and I follow them. Sometimes I get lost. The pieces have overlapping meanings and interpretations, yet they share a distinct visual connection with each other in both Form and Content. You can see them here:

Padlet: Soliloquy
YouTube: Soliloquy Studio Video
Instagram: #lynette.montgomery