Kelly Newcomer

From children's toys controlled by microchips to cellphones and PC's, the overpowering seduction of technology in American society is unavoidable. Colorful Mac's, tiny PalmPilots, even Giga Pets - objects the average man-on-the-street could have lived without a few years ago -- are now mandatory acquisitions, which, if resisted, often lead to self-imposed social ostracism.

The manner in which we "choose" the technological consumer devices we use and the nature of their allure is dealt with in Star Sensor Satellite, a mural by artist Kelly Newcomer that critiques the attraction and sheer beauty of technology through satellites. The mural's reference to high-tech solar panels and outreaching antennae in fantastic, candy-colored shapes force us to reflect upon our "need" for these commodities, as well as the genius of marketing strategies devised to create consumer desire.

Kelly Newcomer attended Universita di Roma, Italy, and went on to receive a BA in Cultural Studies from University of Minnesota. She is currently in Roswell, NM, as a Roswell Artist in Residence Program Award recipient. Her work has been included in the exhibitions: The Fun House, Jemigan Wicker Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA; Kelly Newcomer, Adell McMillan Gallery, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR; Kelly Newcomer, Nic Walker, and Jeff Jahn, Bollenbach Art Labs, Portland, OR; Pop Icon: Kelly Newcomer and Chuck Dong, I-Spy/Nation, Seattle, WA; Kute, Roq La Que Gallery, Seattle, WA; Popsickle, 4x Gallery, Portland, OR; The New Machine: 100 Billion Times Faster and Cuter, Poker Face, Portland, OR; Kelly Newcomer-Paintings, Bernieís Southern Bistro, Portland, OR; Future Cute-Kelly Newcomer, Reading Frenzy, Portland, OR; Kelly Newcomer and Faye Nakamura, The Jocobs Gallery, Eugene, OR; The End: Northwest Biennial, The Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA; The Next Century, H. Lewis Gallery, Baltimore, MD; New Zones Artists Exhibit, Collier House, Eugene, OR; The Donut Show, Calís House of Donuts, Eugene, OR; Cute! Cute!, Wow Hall Gallery, Eugene, OR; Eugeneís Unseen, Kudos Gallery, Eugene, OR; and 3-D Assemblage Art, Alder Gallery, Eugene, OR.

Contact artist Kelly Newcomer with questions about her work for
nooks and crannies by e-mail at kellynewcomernooksandcrannies@hotmail.com

John D. Spiak
Curatorial Museum Specialist
Arizona State University Art Museum