Hosted by the town of Seaside, Florida, the non-profit Escape to Create (E2C) has been bringing creative talent from around the globe to enjoy month-long artist residencies since 1993. For this season, their 31st, the residency featured the work of contemporary abstract artist Kenn Kotara as part of Seaside Prize weekend events.
Currently based in Asheville, North Carolina, Kotara’s practice has evolved along a multi-disciplinary path. Following undergraduate studies in architecture at Louisiana Tech, Kotara traveled the world before returning to earn a BFA in Graphic Design and an MFA in Studio Art. His artistic output over more than three decades exhibits a vigorous curiosity about space and form, innovative architecture and structural design, and an evolving multi-dimensional application of core geometric and organic forms. Much of his artwork, widely exhibited and held in corporate collections across the U.S., is rooted in the fertile Southern environment of his native Louisiana with its rivers, marshlands, and lush vegetation. Kotara’s architectural background and southern roots permeate the abstract paintings of his recent series, barbe espagnole (Spanish moss) with works on canvas, paper, and suspended screens.
Recently retired from full-time teaching at the college level in Asheville, Kotara, a 2008 E2C Fellow, returned to Seaside in February to advance a new body of work, “you Are here Are you” based on his lifelong fascination with traditional cartography. With this work, Kotara metaphorically investigates the connection between cities and living organisms as dynamic and interconnected systems. Pencil, pen, and acrylic paint overlay informative details, while the addition and subtraction of material layers not only obscures recognizable features but also reveals biomorphic forms connoting anatomical, biological, and cosmological elements. Continuing a practice into how space is interpreted and manipulated, paper maps from cities in each U.S. state are transformed into topographical surfaces that visually convey the complexity of infrastructure, urban planning, and geographic features.
“We are all from somewhere or someplace. How we perceive and define these places, connotes an interconnectedness of variable forces that make up human settlements,” explains Kotara.
Delving into the legacy of cartography and the visual organization of space, “you Are here Are You” highlights how mapping, originally used for geographical purposes, has expanded to describe various systems beyond physical geography, including brain functions, politics, climate, and more. This exploration invites viewers to contemplate the intricate relationships of mapping between distinct elements within a system and how they collectively function.
Escape to Create (E2C) is a volunteer-managed non-profit organization that represents the unique character of a community deeply invested in the arts. Residencies are made possible through the generosity of Seaside homeowners, merchants, and donors. Contributions directly support artist residencies, educational outreach, and cultural programs.
