The essence of creative pursuits is akin to spinning a yarn, spun with such deftness and emotion that it clings to the essence of the individual. The story is immortal because it is not merely a story to be heard; it is a story to be felt and carried on. In addition to making new or different things, art also makes the subject's story ingrained in one's mind to the point that it becomes an everlasting echo, a shared memory, and an integral part of one's own narrative.
"Kulli: A Natural Spring of Artwork, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, Public Art and Inspiration" delves deeply into the body of work created by artist Addison Karl. A dedicated visual artist hailing from Chickasaw and Choctaw, Arizona, Addison Karl was born in 1982. He followed his passion for art by honing his talents in screen printing. Addison's artistic pursuits encompass a wide range of media, including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, and public art. He started studying sculpture in 2016 with Giorgio Giuman, who taught him how to cast bronze and glass.
The essence of art and narratives remains constant across the ages, but the clothes they wear—their language, structure, and style—change and sparkle with every transmission. Located at the very center of this dynamic narrative fabric. One of storytelling's greatest strengths is the power it has to transport listeners back in time and rekindle forgotten memories. The strength comes from recalling the story and sharing it with others. Telling a story, again and again, is an oath to preserve its essence so that it may thrive from one generation to the next, an everlasting echo of record-keeping, and no one can ever claim credit for its creation.
Addison Karl is a self-taught artist who has explored a wide range of mediums, traveling the world with his creations. His specialty is sculptures made of glass and bronze. From the Americas to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, his paintings, murals, and installations have traversed oceans and continents. The viewer is guided toward enlightenment and connection through investigations into the confluence of interpersonal interactions, environmental elements, cultural practices, historical events, altruism, color perception, and emotional states.
The intricate sculptures that Addison creates are the result of extensive research and a multidisciplinary approach to materials, ideas, and methods. He challenges assumptions with his innovative patinas, which give bronze the sheen of a material similar to turquoise. This innovative use of materials not only pays homage to the Indigenous art form that uses turquoise but also expresses sentimental connections to his childhood in Arizona.
The creative process for Addison unfolds like a web of interconnected movements as his first ideas and sketches are transferred to several mediums. His art is an attempt to make the viewer more aware of the spaces, buildings, and surfaces it uses. The ideal harmony between Addison's work and nature is sought here.
With a foundation in printmaking, Addison's artistic style continues an ongoing examination of indigenous Chickasaw and Choctaw creative processes blended with contemporary painting and sculpting techniques. He is an even more valuable Culture Bearer because of his dogged pursuit of knowledge. He deftly weaves together traditional and modern production methods, generating a dialogue between the two worlds of tradition and innovation.