In painting these men, am I more interested in enjoying a visceral, personal
relationship with the sitter, or is the material relationship of painter to surface more
gratifying? Both can be described as a "physical relationship." What if the pursuit
is essentially the same in both scenarios? There is aesthetic pursuing, attaining the
image of a man which becomes subjective versus an erotic pursuing, attaining a man
with an image which remains objective. In practice, a series of increasingly intense
flirtations motivated by desire and animated by tight control, giving way to eventual
release.
I'm looking to intersect the area existing in between myself and my subject with
psychic lines directed by gazes exchanged, met and deflected. When I initiate, it is
only following a time spent gaining the trust and intimacy of the sitter.
How to outline intimacy? Lets draw an imaginary line encircling the area that
separates two people who have known each other intimately. Each person is a
point on opposite ends of the circle's diameter. This circle expands and contracts
correspondent to the distance between each point (each person) and engulfs what
happens to lie within it.
To hang a variety of images in a variety of media in the same room is an effort
to surround a space with as many styles of approach (a gesture of amorous
persistence). Images (often portraits or texts) can deflect the viewer's gaze across
the room, exchanging glances with the other images in attendance. What is caught in
between?
I'm keen on sexuality, friction between bodies and penetration. Protection from an
orifice is necessary today. If a space is unspeakable (unable to be caught within an
acceptable metaphor) is it impenetrable?
I imagine the camera lens is less like the human eye and more like an orifice. What's
more, the camera does not attack, is unlike a weapon. It opens and shuts like an
orifice attachable to the photographer's body. Its deceptive power is to make the
subject believe he has entered the photographer, merely by gazing into his aperture.
In this respect, an oeuvre is a body of work the sitter can penetrate.
SAM MCKINNISS
b. 1985, Northfield MN
http://sammckinniss.com
EDUCATION
MFA, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University
2013
BFA, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, West Hartford CT
2007
Semester abroad, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland
2005
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010
Ultra Sensitive, Proof Gallery, Boston MA
2008
FIERCE DOUBT, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain CT
TRUE LOVE, Real Art Ways, Hartford CT, brochure available
Portraits, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford CT
2007
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Figural, DNA Gallery, Provincetown MA
2011
Mixed Messages: A(I)DS, Art + Words, curated by John Chaich for Visual AIDS, La Mama La
Galleria, New York NY, catalogue available
SWAP MEET, Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston MA
2010
Sam & Dave: New Paintings by Dave Whelan and Sam McKinniss, By And By Gallery,
Brooklyn NY
Boston does Boston III, Proof Gallery, Boston MA
2009
Casual Males, Sherman Gallery, Boston University, Boston MA
New Work, La Motta Fine Art, Hartford CT
2007
No-Mad II, The Design Center, Hartford CT, curated by Hirokazu Fukawa, artist
Collaborations, Herndon Gallery, Antioch College, Yellow Springs OH
Diff'rent Strokes, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, West Hartford CT
2005
Duty Free, Cal Arts, Valencia CA, curated by Niko Solorio, artist
2004
Annual Juried Show, Artworks Gallery, Hartford CT, juried by Steven Holmes, curator
AWARDS
New Boston Fund Individual Artist Fellowship, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Hartford CT
2009
GO!, Emerging Artist Contest Winner, Real Art Ways, Hartford CT
2008
2007
Vermont Studio Center Artist Grant and Residency, Johnson VT
Rudolph Zallinger Painting Prize, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cotter, Holland. "'Mixed Messages'" Rev. of 'A(I)DS, Art + Words' New York Times 24 June 2011, sec. C:
27. Print.
Holland, Christian. "Sam McKinniss, Boston" Rev. of Ultra Sensitive, Proof Gallery ART PAPERS,
November/December 2010, 47.
Steele, Max. "Sam McKinniss <3s Love," East Village Boys, June 12, 2009, http://
www.eastvillageboys.com/2009/06/12/sam-mckinniss.
Eagan, Matt. "The Jury's Favorites," Hartford Courant 17 July 2008, sec. CAL: front cover, 8-9.
Buckberrough, Sherry. "Sam McKinniss: True Love," Real Art Ways exhibition essay and brochure, July
2008.
