Teresa Castaneda - "Deja Vu"

Titled Deja Vu because it is a revisitation of a printmaking style I created in my last year of college. In that style, I made installations of 8' x 10' two-dimensional black and white shaped pipe prints, cut into strips, layered across each other, and riveted together with sterling silver tubing.  The intent behind the work was to combine the techniques from all the courses into one piece. Art history, Printmaking, painting, jewelry, sculpture, photography, installation, and drawing. Even though they were selling I started to notice that the pipes didn't seem to be going anywhere and they passed by each other. Something was missing I didn't know what it was yet but stopped printing with the intent to revisit.

A few months ago the wonderful curators of the Arvada Center familiar with my work delivered an oversized rolled white pipe-looking sheet of paper to my studio. As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of the pipe series. Also at the same time, I am fully immersed in the art of raising two teenage daughters, and completing commissions in several media so naturally the work would be again multidisciplinary but this time integrating my life force, the missing aspect in my art when I was in college.  Reflecting the energy and inspriation of those closest to me while the work is in progress. 

The pipes were created by cutting 5" x 50" strips from the supplied one sheet. I placed 1/4 " strips of painter's tape diagonally on one side, painted black, then removed the tape when dry. On the opposite side of the strip,  I drew and cut patches of alternating stripes. The cuts echo our stories, family, relationships, friends, sports, school, work, good, bad, not sure yet, it shaped us, and connects us. The other thing I realized was missing in my earlier work. Connection and reflection of my people. Next, I soaked the paper strips and tightly coiled around wooden dowels to dry. When dried they were sealed with a clear coat, inserted with spiral-shaped wire and attached to PetG (clear plastic sheet cone.). All is supported on a telescope mirror given to me by one of the biggest supporters in my career.  Jerry Carr, he kept me busy with jewelry repair from his store in Cherry Creek, gave me camera parts I saw as potential art, nurtured my kids love of photography by gifting them cameras, and brought his family into my family of iron artists. 

The abstract geometric pattern behind the piece is a wheat paste photograph of the pre coiled strips. The idea and energy behind the piece is the unknown in life much like an optical illusion. The mobile circles represent the ripples from the complexities of all the people merged with ours. The mirror immortalizes those that showed me I can do it.  Arvada Center, Rosanne Carr, Mark Selleck, Casel and Malan Castaneda. Thank You.