Loretta Park
Loretta Park (she/her) is a visual artist and holds an MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Designand a BA from Bowdoin College. Her work has been exhibited at Praise Shadows Art Gallery ,Boston, MA (2022); Dimensions Variable, Miami, FL (2021-22); The Umbrella Arts Center, Concord, MA (2021); Shelter In Place Gallery, Boston, MA (2020); New System Exhibitions,Portland, ME (2019); Ray Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2018); Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA (2017); and Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME (2017). Reviews of exhibitions including the artist have appeared in Art New England, The Boston Globe, and Korean Daily .Loretta currently works in the Boston area and serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
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I paint, cut, weave, and crush objects to create three dimensional pieces. Knowing anything can be altered with my hands, I choose to make with materials that are affordable and easily accessible: scrap wood pieces discarded from the school wood shop, plastic lunch plates found in dollar stores, and clothes I no longer wear. Accessibility is one of the key elements in my work. Visually, I want the work to be accessible to different groups of people. Children may gravitate towards shiny, plastic plates. Some people may recognize mesh bags that once held onions and paper towels used to wipe paint brushes. Too often, art gets intellectualized and become unapproachable. I select affordable materials that can easily be found in hardware stores, recycling bins, and craft stores. I want people to come closer, see what they understand, and start making sense of moments that are puzzling. By altering recognizable objects, I make everyday items appear strange while leaving some materials to be identifiable. See-sawing between recognition and confusion, My work is at once tangible and abstract.
How did your relationship with art and artistic expression begin?
My relationship with making art really began in college. I took a sculpture class my very first semester in college and there was no going back. I spent hours and hours in the studio working on my sculpture. I started skipping my other classes so I can work on my sculpture. Up until my 2nd year of college, I was planning on going to medical school but at the end of my 2nd year, I realized I need to focus on creating art.
How were you introduced to your craft and how has your interest evolved since then?
There isnβt a specific moment. Everything happened gradually. I was initially interested in creating figurative paintings but then I gradually became more interested in manipulating items that are ordinary, functional, and easy to access. I started working with secondhand fabrics first. Then, my material list grew to include anything and all objects that I can alter: wood scraps, plastic plates, packagings, trimmer line for weed wacking, plastic lacing that are often used to make friendship bracelets, etc. My practice is still evolving and Iβm still learning new things. Recently, I started weaving on the floor loom and Iβm melding my woven pieces with other materials to create three dimensional works.
Where do you look for inspiration? How have your inspirations evolved over time?
Hardware stores, secondhand stores, dollar shops, and woodshops are all great places for inspirations. I like looking at things that are slightly out of place and brightly colored. I like wondering about how things came to be and how different objects got there. Having said all that, I canβt exactly place how and where I find my inspirations. My daily experiences inform my work even though these experiences are not explicitly visible in my work. Rather, they are embedded within my material choices and the way I join one object to the other.
If you had to sum up a message/lesson behind your recent work in one sentence, what would it be?
When in doubt, break it first and rebuild.
What is βARTβ to you?
Source of constant excitement and uncertainty. Art is always changing and the uncertainty of art can be very exciting. At the same time, it can also be a source of anxiety as well.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as an artist? And what has been the most rewarding?
Doubt has been the most challenging part of my journey as an artist. I think I doubt what Iβm making every 4 hours. This process of questioning can actually be helpful and it does push me to rethink, revise, and evolve my practice. However, if I let it spiral, it can actually be detrimental to my work. Having said that, I donβt doubt my identity as an artist. Being able to share my work has been the most rewarding. It is always refreshing to see people questioning and engaging my work.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring artist?
I actually have two things: 1. Use your boundaries (emotional and physical) as your guides for making rather than thinking of them as your limitations. 2. Competition mindset is toxic because your friends and peers are your network and your biggest advocates.
Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Iβm sure I will be still making, sharing, and showing my work. I would like to show my work in Korea in the next few years. As a Korean American artist who grew up in Seoul, it would mean a lot to me to show and share my work in Korea. Teaching is also a big part of my overall practice so I hope to be still teaching in the next few years as well. Hopefully, I will also have a studio companion in the form of a dog soon, too. .
What are three things that you would want the BAC community to know about you?
1. I love questions about my work and I love talking so please ask and share your thoughts.
2. I like true crime & cult related podcasts so if you have any recommendations, let me know.
3. I love dogs and my alternate self would be a caretaker at a doggy day care/dog trainer
What is next for you? Where can people find you?
I have two shows coming up in October 2023. One group show and one solo show. Both will be in Boston so please stay tuned! I will be sharing the exhibition details on my instagram: @bertypark and my website (currently working on updating): lorettapark.com
Contact Loretta at lorettakpark@gmail.com
