2011

Lambda Prints and Plexiglass

No Man is an Island is an exploration of creation and connection through the shapes, patterns and colors of the natural and digital worlds.  Thirteen Lambda prints, digitally altered and geometrically shaped, are based on new techniques in image rendering. The original images, shot in Hawaii, explore the complex order of nature while their post production seeks to reveal the digital parallels within that order. The incorporation of this new technology is a part of my study of fractal theory and how fractals relate to the beginning of creation as well as the future of civilization.

Additionally, my intentions are to investigate how these forms relate to the perceptions of emotion as well as their connections to ancient orders of universal symbolism. I also seek to reveal myself within the work; the titles reference my ongoing internal discourse relating to ego, independence, logic, anonymity, isolation, balance and infinity.

2007-2008

Lambda Prints

16 x 20 inches (40.64 x 50.8 cm)

Editions of 10

Pop influenced series Iconogasm presents overarching themes of sex, religion, class, politics, lifestyle, and history into conceptual portraits. These themes are layered with symbolic details found in modern day culture. The portraits invite the viewer to re-consider the cultural references attached to the symbols. Combined, they present new symbols deriving from the meaning of the individual references. By incorporating aspects of costume, the portraits are developed as caricatures of culture. Through the hyperreal aesthetic of artificial lighting and digital manipulation, I aim to explore the distinctions of art versus commercial dialogue.

(click to enlarge)

Born of African, French, and Native American descent, emerging artist Lynnette Astaire’s early years were divided between South Carolina and Chicago where she was classically trained in music and ballet. She began to pursue her artistic career at 16 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

While earning a BFA in Photography from New York City’s School of Visual Arts, Lynnette began her career shooting art, fashion and celebrity projects for clients such as Simon and Schuster Publishing, Vibe Magazine and the Village Voice.

Since graduating in 2005, her artwork for charitable projects such as charity:water has been featured in the windows of Saks 5th Avenue, CNN, and CBS. Her mentorship work with the Marwen Foundation has helped to inspire a new generation of artists.

Lynnette and her work have been featured in Italian newspaper la Repubblica Italy as well as profiles by UK culture magazine Dazed and Confused. Her edgy fashion sense has caught the attention of critics from Second City Style to New York Magazine. She was most recently featured as one of Refinery 29’s Hottest Chicagoans Under 30 for 2011.

She is currently involved in several creative projects in development and exhibiting her new landscape series “No Man is an Island.” She is a regular contributor to the Pepsi’s women’s initiative and is the Creative Director of CY Magazine, a new international culture publication.

Lynnette lives and works in Chicago, IL.

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JEAN GRAE “MY STORY” aka “Spitting ‘Til They Shame You” (Long Player Version) from bricolagista! on Vimeo.

John Monroe from Lynnette Astaire on Vimeo.

“American Gothic”

Is a public works of art project based off of a previous piece “John Monroe,” illustrating the alleged affair between John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. On July 4th 2009, the date marking the United States’ independence from England, the movies were presented and sold in London England for £99.99.

The illegal reproduction and sale of movies has been a staple in urban society for well over a decade. With the advancement of modern technology, highly anticipated feature films trickle down to the
masses often before their theatrical release. “American Gothic” explores the way in which distribution of news and entertainment has evolved, as well as examining the sensationalist manner in which it is often delivered. The project places past events from American history within a more contemporary context provided by these advancements.

As the United States experiences the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, this project is inspired by the efforts of artists within the Federal Art Projects of that period as well as the American legacy of the enterprising and resilient spirit. It also parodies the United Kingdom as “the mother country” and the universal role that maternal figures often hold when one is down on their luck.

“John Monroe” DVD

The scene “John” shows the Zapruder footage of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The scene “Monroe” features the footage of Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President.”

The footage has been dubbed over with coughs, cell phone rings, silhouettes and other common occurrences found in movie theatres. The cheap production value is intended to mimic the pirated, “bootleg” look of movie theater re-recorded video footage used in bootlegged
production methods. These types of movies are commonly sold on the sidewalks and subways of urban areas.

“John Monroe” is a DVD in a limited edition of 50.

“John Monroe” Print

From the Iconogasm series, 2007

16 x 20” Lambda Print, edition of 10

pandemic, swine, greed, widespread panic, virulence, lies, vulnerability, insurance, protection, security, fear, crisis, loss, stability, sensationalism, fashion, freedom.