Southtown Painting

James W. Norton MA fine Art, FRSA As a visual artist, my creative journey is deeply rooted in the exploration of landscapes and their nuanced memories, with a particular emphasis on how they bear witness to the profound impacts of climate change. My artistic endeavors lead me to locations that exude an intriguing atmosphere, yet carry an underlying disquiet, creating a constantly shifting narrative that traverses the realms of the past, present, and future. This profound interplay of human intervention in the natural world is at the heart of my artistic exploration. Transforming human time into geological time, exposing new topologies and the ghosts of structures left behind. My physical process of painting serves as a metaphor to capture the essence of our changing landscapes and the interplay between geological time and human intervention. Through deliberate layering, textures, and the incorporation of cracks and fissures, my artwork echoes the transformative forces landscapes face. Each layer represents a narrative stratum and connects viewers to the ever-evolving relationship between human presence and the transformative impact they have on their surrounds. As a result, the paintings invite contemplation of the intricate relationship between humanity, the environment, and the enduring impact of time. In the context of climate change, my artistic process takes on a profound dimension in the choice and application of materials onto canvas. The juxtaposition of man-made and natural materials within my paintings serves as a poignant commentary on the evolving environmental landscape. As I weave these contrasting elements together, I am keenly aware of the unexpected and unknown outcomes that arise when these materials interact, mirroring the unpredictable consequences of climate change itself. It's in this fusion, where synthetic and organic elements blend and clash, that storytelling happens. This transformative process parallels the Anthropocene epoch, marked by the indelible impact of human activities on Earth's systems. Thus, my artistic practice becomes not only a reflection of climate change but also a tactile representation of our complex relationship with the environment. My work is site-responsive and begins in the earth; this approach serves to infuse my work with the profound legacies of place. I enhance my artworks with elements such as film, collage, and sound to further enrich the sensory experience they offer.