Artist Profile - JaredSiri (Vermont)

JaredSiri

JaredSiri graduated with a BFA in Fine Art with a concentration in photography from Georgia Southern University.  He now lives on a lake in northern Vermont about 50 miles from Canada.

He started creative work after his second year in college. He had no prior exposure to art, but photography resonated with him and he ended up changing majors from Aerospace Engineering to Fine Art.

His photography is influenced by the natural world. Mostly portraits, his work is a closer look at the world we live in, sometimes from a different perspective.    

Why are you an artist?

I am an artist because I enjoy creating. I like the idea of making something and having it affect someone in a completely different slice of space-time. I like finding solutions to the "problems" you run into when creating. With photography, you have the setup (arranging props, deciding depth of field and focus, framing the shot, lighting, etc.) and post-production (developing prints, photoshop), each step with its own challenges. There are limitless ways to solve the problems and produce an image. It's the same with painting; there is a constant adjustment  process that I enjoy.






What is your inspiration?


My inspiration right now comes from the natural world. I live on a lake in the woods and spend a lot of time outside with my dogs, wandering through bogs and hiking over mountains. Nature is fascinating and strange, constantly changing. I like thinking about our culture's relationship to our environment and challenging perceptions of perspective. Some of my work is a little dark; the images of the small animals are things my cats killed and brought home. 

Would you consider yourself a designer or artist or both?


I consider myself an artist more than a photographer. I see myself as a creative person who has a background in photography. I play music and paint as well, so I can't really say I'm one thing over another. 

 

What is the role of the artist in our society?

I feel the role of the artist is to create and inspire more creation. I think people focus on the money aspect of art (what will sell) rather than just working to create. If you build it, and it is good, they will come. Many masters weren't famous until well after their death. Constantly pushing your boundaries as an artist leads to exciting innovation and pushes others to do the same. When I see amazing work by someone else, it inspires me to put more effort into what I do.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years? What are your ultimate goals as an artist?


My goals as an artist are not defined. I see art more as an avenue to create than a career. I'd love to have a studio someday where people want to come and buy my work, but I have no aspirations for greatness or fame. I plan on continuing bodies of work, learning and gaining experience over time.

 

What does art mean to you?


For me, art is anything that shows creative thought or effort. When I look at a painting, I see the hours it took to lay down the paint, the time spent thinking about the way the colors sit next to each other. When I see people doing ballet, I see the hours of training and practice to make movement look effortless. When I see a work of architecture, I look at how the designer challenges notions of space and material. I don't think you can limit creative thought and expect to progress as a person or culture. I may be shot for saying so, but I think design can be art. I think sport can be too. Intention has a lot to do with it.

Past Exhibitions

knowyounevermetyou, 2008 - Unitec, New Zealand and Statesboro, GA.
Faces, 2009 - Statesboro, GA.

BFA Senior Exhibition, 2009 - Statesboro, GA.

 Current & Future Exhibitions

His work is currently being shown at Frame Dames in St. Johnsbury, VT.

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