On Display at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery During ArtPrize 2024 Sept. 12, 2024 How many times per day do you find yourself granting permission to this or that app to send information, access your data or share your location? Do you ever stop to think about where and how that information will show up? Christopher Shields invites us to ask questions about our vulnerability, both intentional and unintentional, through “Permission.” “What do we allow people to see of us in person, and how does that compare to the image we curate online?” Shields asked. “I’m fascinated by how the digital world impacts the analog — the in-person — experience. I wanted to explore the ideas of authenticity and how we do or don’t make ourselves vulnerable.” His entry into ArtPrize is a 48”x60” oil on canvas. It is a composite self portrait comprising five or six main images of himself. “Self portraits can be a slippery slope,” Shields said. “I realize that some people think they are vain. I hope that in this work, people will see vulnerability and awkwardness. “ This is Shields’ second year of participating in ArtPrize. Last year, he won the Prism Award for his painting about artificial intelligence. This year, he continues to integrate technology themes into his work. Shields notes that exhibiting in ArtPrize is a completely different experience than showing work in a gallery. “I’ve been exhibiting since I was in my 20s,” Shields said. “Last year, I felt confident but then had a last-minute bout of panic. I realized that when I showed in a gallery, I was putting my work in front of people who knew what to expect. At ArtPrize, anyone can come up and ask questions. It’s a whole different experience.” Fortunately, Shields said, the experience was positive. “Art is absolutely vital. It’s part of living in society. I loved the interaction and the kind words.” He also enjoyed showing his freshmen art students that by staying authentic, they will be able to do whatever they want.   Shields uses what he admits is a very left-brained process to create a right-brained, creative piece of art. The work is a labor of love. Ultimately, the birch plywood panels he’s using will have 12 layers plus a glaze, but he doesn’t start there. “I don’t start with a blank canvas,” Shields said. “For this piece, I combined, filtered, layered and PhotoShopped my ideas into a digital composite. Then I started painting. And while new things are happening as I move from digital to analog, this process helps relieve anxiety and provide me with an emotional safety net.” “Anyone can become involved in this piece,” Shields said. I hope it makes people think about the permissions they grant, both digitally and in person, that allow others to see the true self.” You can learn more about Shields and his work via his website . GRCC will be hosting six ArtPrize entries in the Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. ArtPrize is open to the public from September 13-28, 2024. Learn more about the competition, venues, artists and voting .    

On Display at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery During ArtPrize 2024 Everyone has a different reason for creating art. For Daniel, it started as a way to process post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now he uses his art to help others who have mental health challenges. “Torn” is a 6’x10’ digital artwork based on a photo of a flight paramedic that Daniel took in Las Vegas. Then he added details using digital tools. The result is something that viewers have to look at twice. Is it a photo? Is it a painting? That questioning is part of the experience. “I experienced PTSD and other mental health issues as a result of being a first responder,” Sundahl said. “My psychologist recommended that I use art to process the trauma I had experienced. I was a little skeptical at first, but expressing my feelings in this way helped me process and recover.” Daniel acknowledges that “Torn” might be disturbing to some people. He’s actually okay with that. In “Torn,” the flight paramedic is pulled from one side by the devil, who represents the suicidal thoughts he has experienced. On the other side are his peers, fighting to save him because he has lost the ability to save himself.   “I want people who see my art to feel something,” Sundahl said. “I don’t intentionally try to make them feel bad, but I would rather have them feel uncomfortable than feel nothing. Hopefully they will see that hope and peer support can conquer even the ultimate hopelessness that drives people to suicide.” Daniel says he has been doing this work for approximately 10 years, and it has touched a nerve in the first responder community. He’s excited to share it in this, his first ArtPrize experience. “I find that my art resonates with people who have experienced trauma,” Sundahl said. “In addition to being an artist, I am also a therapist and a speaker. I understand how hard it is to recover from trauma. But I can truly say that I am a better person now, after my experiences, than I was before.” Daniel believes that art in general, and ArtPrize in particular, are wonderful celebrations. “This event brings hundreds of artists together and celebrates what they do,” Sundahl said. “Exploring artistic expression is so good for our mental wellbeing. Personally, I love to understand the ‘why’ behind the work. This is a great opportunity for artists to express what they feel and for the public to experience it.” At the end of the day, Daniel hopes people see one thing in “Torn.” “This is a message of hope for people who are suffering and have lost the capacity to find their way out,” Sundahl said. “Rely on the people who are there to help and support you when you don’t have the ability to help yourself.” You can learn more about Daniel and his work via his website . GRCC will be hosting six ArtPrize entries in the Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. ArtPrize is open to the public from September 13-28, 2024. Learn more about the competition, venues, artists and voting .