KEERAH HUTCHINGS

          Some of my fondest memories of my childhood were when my Dad would take me and my younger brothers fishing on weekends. As a curious child, I was entranced by the way the fish swam in the water, how they were shaped, and the weird patterns and colors of their scales. Both my Dad and my Grandpa Hutchings taught me how to catch, hold and even gut my own fish. As I got older and discovered more unusual and different kinds of fish I was hooked, even more. Fish are used quite often in many cultures and the meanings often change depending on the story or how it is used. Some of my favorite meanings are rebirth, abundance, endurance, good fortune, and longevity. 

When I was studying for my Anthropology degree, I was introduced to different cultures and how they would use animals to symbolize other things creating unique narratives on sculptures and papyrus. I draw my inspiration for my pieces from mythology and symbols of different cultures, such as Greek, Egyptian, and Norse. While I was studying different cultures, I found it interesting how they portrayed women and women’s roles in society. It made me wonder; if I created my own mythology how would I express my experiences? How would the people in my narratives interact? I began drawing large goddess-like beings that interact with their environment with their hands rather than their eyes. I liked the concept of experiencing or trying to see with the other senses. I have always been intrigued by textures and what sensations they create when touched.

I work in different media, but my main focus is printmaking, more specifically techniques such as woodcut and linoleum cut prints, which I carve and ink by hand. I combine textures, color, and close-up compositions in my pieces to express emotions and movement. I like to experiment with different papers to create different effects, feelings, and colors. I love printing by hand and with a printing press because of the textures it creates, no piece turns out exactly the same due to the different pressures you can use as you print. The patterns of the ink are unique and you get something new and exciting every time with each print.