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Winter Resident Profile - Alyssa Welch – 2009 Salad Days Resident Artist alyssawelch.com 
The world can be quite mundane, chaotic, and distracting. People may choose to replace the hurry and daily stress with creative refinement. Reflecting on the meal elegantly presented and sharing this experience with others shows a care for and appreciation of the beautiful side to life. Distractions disappear as the cares of time and business are replaced by creative refinement. Time is taken to participate in the specialness of the moment. Our lives move at such a fast pace I am trying to create a moment, slowing of the pace in the time we live. This moment and memory of luxury gives vital empowerment to the human spirit as we deal with the ever-changing reality of the business of life. The attention we pay to elegance, beauty, and grace is a missing element often forgotten in today's paper-cup, drive-thru coffee shop world. The organization of visual elements, including elegant structure and defined decorative patterns, gives visual to a formal context to my work in terms of place and meaning. The pattern as a decorative element explores symmetry, order, and rhythm. Creating pillowing relief carving and flowing lines gives visual depth and movement to the surfaces. The creative focal point is not static but a moving, flowing arrangement of lines and forms requiring the viewer to interact more slowly with the work. The patterns and forms used appeal in a flowing graceful way by creating order and rhythm across the surface yet not visually overwhelming the intended use to display food. 
Special service tableware defines the occasion, creates ritual, evokes memories, refines the human spirit, and gives importance to what is being served. Our lives may be moving faster than we would like. We still have not lost the ability to pause and enjoy a fine setting or meal. We require it more now as our souls crave to seek out the beautiful and reflect it back to the world. |