A sense of isolation and loss of individuality surround most of artist Meg Aubrey‘s paintings. With images of landscapes, Stepford Wives-like women and other suburban elements, Aubrey surveys neighborhoods and deconstructs the expectations of this seemingly idyllic lifestyle. After a bit of soul searching, she obtained an MFA in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design. Currently a SCAD professor, she was the recipient of the Fulton County Arts Council’s Hambidge Residency Award. With solo shows at Whitespace Gallery and Gallery Stokes already under her belt, she’s currently readying for her upcoming group show, SCORE: Artists in Overtime, at MOCA GA—on display Jan. 31-March 29.
Here, CommonCreativ talked to Aubrey about suburban culture, her upcoming show at MOCA GA and working in Atlanta’s creative environment.
CommonCreativ: How did you prepare for your group show at MOCA GA?
Meg Aubrey: I’ve been interested in the cult of sports as it relates to the suburban environment. Team loyalty runs deep and you see extreme commitment and passion from fans. I watch sports, go to sporting events and have been a soccer mom for 10 years. It was natural to prepare for this show, since I am an observer as well as a participant in these activities.
CC: Your work focuses a lot on the suburban culture—white picket fences, sidewalks and controlled landscapes and the Stepford Wives-type women that inhabit these areas.
MA: I grew up in suburbia and currently live there. The work I make is an attempt to understand this controlled environment and how it affects those who choose to live within its confines. We all want to think of ourselves as unique, but suburbia has a way of stripping away one’s individuality in subtle ways. Before you know it, you’re dressing and acting similar to those around you. The desire to be accepted and included overtakes individualism.
CC: There’s a sense of isolation in the American dream you portray. What’s your American dream?
MA: My American dream is to live happily making my art.
CC: What’s your creative process?
MA: I spend a lot of my time observing the environment around me. I sketch and photograph things within the environment that inspire me. Once I decide on what I want to paint, I strip away anything that is not essential to the message I am trying to put forth.
CC: What are your favorite Atlanta projects and/or artists?
MA: I’m a huge fan of Susan Bridges, director and owner of Whitespace gallery. She shows a variety of challenging, eclectic art.
CC: What inspires you?
MA: My surroundings—I only have to look out my home studio window for inspiration. Also talking to and listening to the people who are my friends and neighbors.
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s creative scene?
MA: There are so many talented artists in Atlanta. On any given weekend you can go to openings and see artists dealing with challenging and contemporary issues. I feel fortunate to be working within such a creative environment.
CC: What’s next?
MA: I love making work, the conceptual ideas as well as the physical painting and creating. I’m not finished with my suburban investigation, but I’m sure it will grow and change as I move forward. I’m interested in the way people live within different communities, so I may explore those stories.
You can see more of Meg Aubrey’s work here and don’t miss her new group show at MOCA GA, SCORE, opening on Friday, January 31st.
