Carolyn Oberst

HOW TO ASSEMBLE VIDEO

Carolyn Oberst — 2012-01-17T04:13:13Z

HOW TO ASSEMBLE A MONKEY PUZZLE

MONKEY PUZZLE VIDEO

Carolyn Oberst — 2012-01-17T03:13:48Z

MONKEY PUZZLE VIDEOS

How to Assemble

Carolyn Oberst — 2011-10-12T16:55:47Z

- Paintings, Collages and Reliefs

Monkey Puzzle

Carolyn Oberst — 2011-10-12T16:54:27Z

Realizing my unique wood relief paintings have a puzzle-like quality, I decided to create a wood relief puzzle as a multiple work of art. The 23-piece puzzle, (titled, simply, Monkey Puzzle), based on one of my paintings, is an interactive piece of art for the whole family. Challenging for younger children, parents can work with them to put it together. When not being played with, it fits together in its frame and sits in the custom made stand, that comes with it, as a charming piece of art for a child's room, or any room in the house.

Each puzzle is hand-painted by me using VOC-free totally non-toxic paint (yes, it can go harmlessly in a mouth), and handcrafted by a master Vermont craftsman using sustainably grown wood.

The slogan that describes this work best is, “Art you can play with!”

Orders take 2-3 weeks, faster if a rush is needed. Contact me for pricing information. There is both retail and wholesale pricing available.

You can contact me directly through the contact link on this website or writing to carolyn www.carolynoberst.com

CAROLYN'S NEWS

Carolyn Oberst — 2011-06-01T18:16:34Z

One Person Show, M55Art Gallery, Long Island City, NY - Oct. 19- Nov. 5, 2011


Entrance to M55 Art Show: Hallway into M55 Art Show


Long Wall w/Large painting: View of wall with largest paintings


Long Wall_2nd View: Long Wall view w/puzzle


Walls next to Entrance: Forward View


Walls next to entrance: 2nd view


Right side of entrance: closer view


M55 Opening: Images from opening night


M55 Opening: Image from opening night


M55 Opening: w/Nydia Valezquez-US Congressional Rep. on opening night


M55 Opening: w/daughter, Jasmin, on opening night

Group Show, Contemporary Art Network, NY, NY - July 5 - 23rd, 2011

Two Person Show at The Forge Gallery, Mitford, Pennsylvania - May 7 - June 5, 2011


Invitation to Forge Gallery Show


The Forge Gallery: Entrance to the gallery


Front of the Gallery bldg.: historic gallery bldg.


Paintings on Paper and Sewn Button Collages: 4-paintings on paper,5- sewn button collages


Closer view of 7 pieces: Two paintings on paper and 5 sewn button collages


Even closer view of 4 pieces: Two paintings on paper and two sewn button collage


Close view of 4 other pieces: Two other sewn button collages and two other paintings on paper

Group Show - “Celebrating Pioneer Artists of Tribeca”, Salomon Arts Gallery, NYC, May 6-13th, 2011

Two Person Show at the Vit Gallery in Seoul, S. Korea - Jan. 25-Feb. 15, 2011


Vit Exhibition in Seoul, S. Korea: Installation views


Vit Exhibition 3


Vit Exhibition 4


Vit Exhibition 6


Vit Exhibition 2


Vit Exhibition 5


Vit Exhibition 7

PAINTINGS ON PAPER - 2011-2012

Carolyn Oberst — 2008-02-12T02:42:00Z

The wood relief paintings I've been doing are labor intensive, requiring the painting on all sides of many elements, long hours of standing in front of a large (and scary) band saw, and assistance in screwing the work together. In order to explore ideas more quickly, in 2011, I began a series of paintings that are oil on gesso paper. I see them as both possible studies for larger wood pieces and also as paintings that stand on their own. The paper allows for more free-wheeling shapes and openess in the design of the work.

The paper pieces are done in a similar fashion to the wood relief paintings, as I use a collage technique for making elements and gluing them together with the larger shapes. Because the subject matter in this series is the same and treated in a similar way, these smaller collaged paintings still convey the same conflicted feelings an as the larger wood paintings.

RELIEF PAINTINGS - 2008-2011

Carolyn Oberst — 2008-02-09T10:04:00Z

Like the early Surrealists, I have been using images of toys to create an emotional impact. My wood relief paintings, feature bright colors and lively shapes and employ a labor intensive and intricate wood relief technique. After cutting the wood shapes, each piece is painted separately with oil paint, and then screwed onto a painted wood panel from behind.

This imagery and way of working allows me to comment on the tumultuous state of our contemporary life. The vintage toys refer to the fact that childhood, and, by implication, adult life as well, isn't what it used to be. The days of growing up slowly have been supplanted by an overly busy lifestyle, more bombarded with input than ever before.

On the other hand, the complications, juxtapositions and multi-tasking we all experience, can be fun and interesting. Though challenging, our modern lives reflect a new, exciting cultural expansion. The colorful oil on wood relief and animated quality of these paintings captures the upbeat side of our new order.

In this way the paintings depict both the positive and negative sides of this aspect of contemporary life and expresses the contradictory state of our existence.

SOCK DOLL DRAWINGS + COLLAGE - 2009

Carolyn Oberst — 2008-02-06T21:48:00Z

- Paintings, Collages and Reliefs

SEWN COLLAGES 2006

Carolyn Oberst — 2008-02-05T19:02:00Z

- Paintings, Collages and Reliefs

DISTRESSED DOLL PAINTINGS 2004-2005

Carolyn Oberst — 2008-02-05T03:19:00Z

Artists have historically used dolls as subjects. They have human qualities without being human which gives them a surreal edge, and they were, in fact, popular with the Surrealists. In addition to their surreal qualities, their reference to childhood automatically has a charged emotional impact.

The dolls I've used in these paintings have an additional “charge” in that they are usually troubled in some way. Frequently they are broken, or their outfits are torn or dirty. They may be in a disturbing or unusual setting. Or they could be coupled or grouped to produce an interesting interaction. I look for subjects that have a compelling visual interest; their clothes, their faces, expressions, etc., all figure into it. The paintings of the dolls can resolve in many ways. They can be scary, sweet, moving, disturbing, poignant, or provoke mixed emotions. My aim is to go directly to the heart of the innocence and haunting residue of childhood.

In this series the framing element is an integral part of the piece, which helps to give each painting a singular look.