Artist's Reception: CONSUMERS OR THE CONSUMED? Pamela Keilson February 16, 2012

Pamela's aim is to draw attention to propaganda in nutritional marketing and the potential consequences of consuming food based on convenience over quality.

After living abroad for a decade, Pamela was "shocked" to observe 'how, where, and what' people eat in the US. In response, this body of work comments on the divergence from natural ingredients especially as it applies to processed foods and the glorification of an 'on-the-go' lifestyle leading to a general cultural acceptance of relegating enjoyment of food to a secondary activity (eating in the car, on foot, or otherwise engaged in an activity other than the enjoyment of each meal during the day). Pamela does admit to occasionally succumbing to the convenience of 'grab-and-go' nutrition, so she understands how easy it is to make the choice of convenience over quality. Taking inspiration from the visual vocabularies of Andy Warhol and Wayne Thiebaud, ultimately these works illuminate her desire to see a cultural shift towards spending quality time with quality food to enjoy to a better quality of life.

About her process, Pamela shares, "I use intense colors so that people look at these everyday objects in a different way, provoking thought and conversation. I usually have an idea in mind when I start. Then, I photograph each element and compose the general piece, "painting" with paintbrushes in Photoshop. I love Photoshop because I can create hundreds of layers, allowing me to experiment with different layouts and colors. Some pieces come together in a month; others have taken years before I'm satisfied. I then print on canvas or fine art paper. My canvas pieces are finished with strategically placed acrylic paint to add depth and texture to an otherwise flat print."

Exhibit through April 2, 2012

Official Website: http://www.mckinleyartsolutions.com/hotel_triton.html