Michael McConnell

"In the assemblages (boxes) I create unique associations between objects.  I have been collecting objects over the past few years, each one selected for its physical or metaphorical meaning.  Often I find these cast-off materials in thrift stores and antique malls, where rummaging through the shelves becomes part of the process of creation.  Every object comes with its own set of associations and references based on its size, color, use, and historical context.  I attempt to utilize these properties by arranging them formally in an unusual or unexpected way.” "In the lithographic prints, line defines as it moves through the images, allowing the viewer to investigate the activity.  The cartoon-like images are drawn with simple fluid lines.  There is an immediacy about them that reflects my efforts to record the subconscious.  The lines are not laboriously drawn or weighed down with areas of detailing, rather, they create a spontaneous and emotive quality.”

A recent graduate of Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio, Michael already had numerous exhibitions.   In the Midwest he exhibited at the Joseph Canzani Center, Hammond Harkins Gallery and Beaton Gallery.  Here in the Bay Area he partook in San Francisco’s Queer Youth Special Exhibit at the GLBT conference and exhibited at City Arts Cooperative Gallery.

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