:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/E772RGRQUBB7NNYLZPF7QZ6INE.jpg)
The current artwork in the first floor gallery of the Warren Cultural Center is called “Pieces from Frankenstein’s Wardrobe” by Olive Palmer, Iowa native and 2023 graduate of Grandview University (BA in Studio Arts with a minor in Theater Production). Palmer currently resides in Kansas City, working out of Agnes Arts Studios.
After installation, Palmer described their artwork.
“These pieces are part of a larger body of work that I’ve titled ‘Frankenstein’s Wardrobe.’ As a non-binary person, someone who doesn’t identify as male or female, I was interested in the restrictions of the gender binary, and I try to find a way to reconcile that with my own identity,” Palmer said. “Clothing has always been a way that I personally express myself quite a bit, and I was interested in taking suits and dresses, the two opposite ends of the gender spectrum. I played with lighting a lot, a lot of pinks and blues, kind of standard gender colors.
Media for these pieces are acrylic paint and twine.
“I love paint as a medium. I think it’s really interesting what you can do if you’re really deliberate about it,” Palmer said. “And then I tore the painting, I went at it with a knife, and stitched it back together in an attempt to deconstruct or disassemble and then reconcile the gender binary roles with my own identity.”
“I like acrylic because I work really fast as an artist. I think it ties back to the theater because you’re always working on a deadline,” they said. “I really like acrylic because you can work multiple layers in a day because it dries really fast and you can go right back over it. I get a lot more vibrant colors with acrylic…the process of making the work is just as important as the final product for me.”
Palmer really likes the 24 by 36 inch size, but has done works as large as 8 feet tall and as small as 11 by 14 inches.
Palmer delivered their work from Kansas City: “This is the first actual gallery I’ve shown my work - It’s crazy!”
They said, “My goal is to keep growing as an artist, keep making work.”
When asked what takeaway they would hope viewers would have from their work they said, “I would love to see some self reflection from people. This is work that is very personal to me and my experiences, and if someone else can relate to those experiences, I would find a lot of fulfillment in that.”
Check out Olive Palmer’s multimedia pieces in WCC’s lobby Monday through Saturday during the month of August.