Catharsis
by Allan Stuart Dunayer
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF FINE
ARTS
Montana State University
© Copyright by Allan Stuart Dunayer (1982)
Abstract:
no abstract found in this volume CATHARSIS
by
A lla n S tu a rt Dunayer
A th esis submitted in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t
o f thefcrequirements f o r the degree
o f,
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
Approved:
ISirjJersan, GNouate Committee
Graduate Dean
•MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana'
June, 1982.
STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY
In presenting t h is thesis in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f the r e q u ir e ­
ments f o r an advanced degree a t Montana S tate U n iv e rs ity , I agree
t h a t the L ib ra ry s h a ll make i t f r e e l y a v a ila b le f o r in sp ec tio n .
I
f u r t h e r agree t h a t permission f o r extensive copying o f t h is thesis f o r
s c h o la rly purposes may be granted by my major professo r, o r , in his
absence, by the D ir e c to r o f L i b r a r ie s .
I t is understood t h a t any copy­
ing or p u b lic a tio n o f t h is thesis f o r f in a n c ia l
w ithout my w r it te n permission.
•
gain sh a ll not be allowed
M.F.A. Thesis Statement
■c a - t h a n - s i s
1.
purgation, e s p e c ia lly o f the bowels.
2.
the p u r ify in g or r e l ie v in g o f the
emotions by a r t : an A r i s t o t e l i a n con­
cep t, applied o r i g i n a l l y to the e ffe c ts
o f t r a g ic drama.
3.
in p s y c h ia try , the a l l e v i a t i o n o f fe a r s ,
problems and complexes by bringing them
to conciousness and giving them ex­
pression.
Webster's D ictio n ary
My work is about fin d in g my way through a process o f l e t t i n g
go o f myths, s e c u r ity b lanke ts, and u n r e a l i s t i c expectations
order to bring about changes and personal growth in m yself.
in
By
expressing a n x ie ty , f r u s t r a t i o n and confusion in my a r t , I allo w
myself to release tensions o f d a i l y ro u tin e th a t m anifest themselves
in my mind.
The images I use are from my i n t e r i o r world.
I become so obsessed
with them th a t I become them- in th is way they are visual su b stitu te s
f o r m yself.
Although my work contains i d e n t i f i a b l e images, n arratio n
is not my primary i n t e n t .
My o b je c tiv e is more a visual expression o f
energy and emotions.
Because o f my background as a p o t t e r , I fe e l the need to t r e a t
the p a in tin g as a t a c t i l e surface.
An e x p re s s io n is tic q u a l i t y comes
from dense b u ild in g up o f a v a r ie t y o f m aterial to achieve a ric h su r­
fa c e .
The work is as much involved with the process o f assemblage as
i t is w ith p a in tin g .
2
My work evolves out o f c o n f l ic t s and dialogues between the i n ­
t u i t i v e and the i n t e l l e c t u a l .
The i n t u i t i v e stage is the impulsive
and spontaneous response to c e r ta in images, forms and marks.
The
i n t e l l e c t struggles to go beyond the t r a d it i o n s and r e s t r ic t i o n s o f
my cumulative experience.
Pu ttin g together these influences allow me.
to draw upon my own im agination.
The end o f a piece comes when these
two forces reach a balance and an order.
This dialogue in te rlo c k s
in a s tru c tu re t h a t communicates a sense o f wholeness.
SLIDES
T itle
Size
#1
Day or Night
60 x 72 x 3
#2
Search
44 x 36 x 6
#3
L ig h t House
42 x 50 x 4
#4
Shaving
50 x 48 x 12
#5
U n title d
40 x 48 x 10
#6
In te rio r
62 x 48 x 4
#7
U n title d
55 x 58 x 6
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