Work in Progress 5 Collage

A student at the University of Colorado Denver, Jennifer Hendrick dedicates herself to absorbing art through viewing, creating, and participating in the local art community. Although typically working with the visual arts through painting and print making, Hendrick has a passion for performance art and art education. Her future plans are to earn her Masters in printmaking and continue on to teach art. Statement: I am interested in our ability to compare ourselves to the "Ideal," and this body of work is inspired by the iconic Barbie doll and her impact on our culture. Criticized by society for giving young girls an unrealistic expectation to live up to, Barbie reinvents herslef to conform to the current fashions. Ultimately, this historic American icon is simultaneously laveled as glamourous and marketed as a role model for women. "Deal with the Ideal" is a collection of mixed media pieces ranging from various performances, to two foot square paintings, to smaller screen prints showcasing my evolving opinion about "beauty" as it relates to perceptions of the idea. Each work depicts some aspect of these dolls through historical or personal affiliation, combining crude and/or shocking imagery, icons and text. Beside the easily recognizable image of Barbie I also use vibrant colours, layers upon layers of paint, collage, and ink, aiming to dispute and comment upon the many perceptions people have of woman and their political uprising.