PDF

Julie Upmeyer
portfolio
Dimensional Crises - Open Loop
archival digital print, cold press laminate, mdf, misc. hardware
108 X 75 X 18 cm
2014
This series takes the physical and conceptual relationships between
one, two, three, and four dimension as its starting point. Using a
camera to flatten objects and spaces, the lost third dimension is
resurrected through physical modifications - cutting and layering.
The three-dimensional vases are then re-inserted into the
two-dimensional background.
Dimensional Crises - Open Loop 5
Dimensional Crises - Open Loop 2
Dimensional Crises - Open Loop 1
Dimensional Crises - Undertows
mirrored Plexiglas, archival digital prints, glass vases, misc. hardware
21 X 21 X 30cm (right)
21 X 21 X 10cm (next page)
21 X 21 X 11cm (page after next)
2014
We understand the world to be three-dimensional, yet our eyes can only
show us a rather limited two-dimensional perspective of our surroundings.
These sculptures allow you to see three dimensions in three actual
dimensions, the reflections showing multiple and incongruent views
of a single object.
Dimensional Crises - Undertows 1
Dimensional Crises - Undertows 4
Dimensional Crises - Undertows 3
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance
digital prints, polystyrene ceiling medallions, wood, glass, metal, plastic
and ceramic ornaments, bronze, brass and plastic beads, silver and gold
metallic wax, glass domes
44 X 44 X 70cm
2014 - 15
Ubiquitous buildings, security cameras, and traffic barriers surround
towering gilded sculptures. These sculptures replicate the viewing
experience of ‘roundabout art’, performing for the viewer as they circle
the work, their perspective warping and shifting, the entire scene
changing in the process.
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance, Proliferate
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance, Immortalize
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance, Exult
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance, Orchestrate
Dimensional Crises - Public Performance, Triumph
The Metromorphic Varieties
digital print, bisque ceramic figurines painted with
watercolor paints
installation at Ismail’s cafe, Pasaj’s exhibition space
2016
‘The Metromorphic Varieties’ proposes a possible
future step in evolution - animals evolving to blend
into the built world, disguising themselves with the
patterns and colors of the city.
Principles of dazzle and disruptive camouflage are
used and adapted to illustrate this utopic/distopic
urban scenario. Pigeons, sparrows, and seagulls, all
common features of city life, are presented camouflaged in front of a panoramic cityscape. ‘The Metromorphic Varieties’ imagines how animals could, in the
future, become more optically suited for the haphazard, man-made city environment.
Layered - Karaköy
sculptured photographic installations
vinyl print, Plexiglas, misc hardware
150 X 100 X 150 cm
2013
These photographic installations (re)create a three
dimensional environment, a scene from hardware
district of Istanbul. This area is normally chaos; carts,
cars, people, the contents of the stores spilling out
onto the streets in elaborate displays. Yet it is
presented at peace, in theatrical proportions,
a quiet moment for the viewer to observe the
physical construct of the area.
Layered Karaköy, Ömerağa Sokak / 2
Layered Karaköy, Zincirli Han Sokak / 6
Layered Karaköy, Yelkenciler Sokak / 2
Layered - Karaköy
sculptured photographs
inkjet prints, corrugated cardstock
21 X 28 X 13 cm (right and below)
27 X 42 X 26 cm (next page)
60 X 45 X 17 cm (pages after next)
2011-13
A single tw0-dimensional photograph is printed eight
or nine times, each layer cut out and layered on top
of the next, recreating the scene in three physical
dimensions.
These sculptured photographs simultaneously
replicate as well as alter the perspective of these
narrow streets.
4f) Layered Karaköy, Yanıkkapı Sokak / 2
4b) Layered Karaköy, Kardeşim Sokak / 1 (top right)
4c) Layered Karaköy, Tersane Caddesi / 1 (bottom right)
4a) Layered Karaköy, Fütuhat Sokak / 1
Layered Karaköy, Fermeneciler Caddesi Stairway / 1
Layered Karaköy, Yelkenciler Sokak / 4 Silvered
Layered Karaköy, Yelkenciler Sokak / 3 Gilded
The Flowers
plastic flooring tile, DMC embroidery floss
144 X 160 cm
2014 - 15
The grid of plastic clip-together flooring tiles is used as a base
for large-scale cross stitch works. Thematically keeping in
tradition with traditional cross stitch patterns, flower images
are created through thousands of individual colored points.
Daffodil, Yellow
Tulip, Red
Calla Lily, Violet
Daisy, Orange
Interior Inventories
paint chips, Keskin Color posters, brass plates
70 X 55 cm (right)
57 X 41 cm (below)
44 X 59 cm (next)
2013
As an investigation into taste, class, and marketing, pyramid-shaped
units are folded from interior paint-swatch catalogues of Turkish
paint companies. The joined units are superimposed on posters
from Keskin Color, a popular store for posters to decorate one’s
home. Each work carries the brand name of the paint company
and the year of the catalogue.
Turkish Lira
shredded Turkish Lira notes
72 X 154 mm (100 TL bill) 68 X 148 mm (50 TL bill)
68 X 142 mm (20 TL bill) 64 X 136 mm (10 TL bill)
64 X 130 mm (5 TL bill)
2012 - 13
A set of Turkish Lira bills created from the shredded money gathered
in front of the loading dock of Central Bank of Turkey. The result is a
jumble of text, partial images, patterns, and hues, so familiar from
our daily interactions with the real, legal tender.
Turkish Lira, Big Money
Curriculum Vitae
Formal Education
2003
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics Emphasis, Cum Laude, 3.79 GPA,
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA
Artist Residencies & Workshops
2014
2014
2012
2011
2009
2009
2007
2006
Gyeonggi Creation Center, Sungam-do, Ansan-si, South Korea
Electro-etching Workshop, Gran Canaria, Spain
Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, Japan
AIZ 11, Interdisciplinary art group SERDE, Aizpute, Latvia
FreeDimensional Emerging Art Space Support Initiative, Toronto, Canada
Arts and Cultural Studies Laboratory, Yerevan, Armenia
Meeting Point Video Workshop, Gulpinar, Turkey
Aden Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey
Initiated Projects
2007-14
Caravansarai Art Space *
initiator and co-director of independent, artist-run art and production space in Istanbul. We hosted and initiated workshops, performances,
a residency program, art production, collaborations, conferences, and other events and projects.
2011-13
Persembe Pazari Projects*
A series of artworks, exhibitions, performances, and investigations inspired by Persembe Pazari, the hardware district of Istanbul.
The final exhibition was composed of over 40 artworks by 12 local and international artists.
2012-13
Tan Han Art Teras (THAT)*
A public exhibition space on the back wall of the Caravansarai Art Space building, presenting new large-scale art works,
viewable only from the hardware mall below and the neighboring terrace of the prestigious SALT research space.
2010-11
CaravansarAID*
An artistic exploration of tokenism, nationalism, and diplomacy in the contemporary art world. A series of artworks and performances exploring
our position as two Americans running an art space in Turkey, and the expectations created when invited to present work outside of Turkey.
2010 Tea, Tavla and Tall Tales*
An investigation into the multiple histories of the Karaköy neighborhood of Istanbul. Commissioned artists created seven
site-specific artworks, incorporating various aspects of these histories into the renovation of the Caravansarai building.
2007-9
Virtual Chef
The Virtual Chef combines elements of an art opening, a dinner party and a performance. Connected through the internet, participants in two
locations simultaneously cook a dish, exchanging information about the recipe, ingredients, and anything else that comes to mind.
* with Anne Weshinskey
Selected Exhibitions
2016
At Home and Further Afield, Rumsey Street Project, Grand Rapids, USA
2016
The Metromorphic Varieties, Pasaj, Turkey
2015
Pyeong Chang Biennale, PyeongChang, South Korea
2014
Living and Working in Flux, Gyeonggi Creation Center, Ansan-si, South Korea
2014
Telephone, Satellite Collective, New York, USA
2013
Layered Karaköy, BAUART, Istanbul, Turkey *
2013
Hacked me in Intimacy, Ark Kültür, Istanbul, Turkey
2013
Perşembe Pazarı Projects, Caravansarai, Istanbul, Turkey
2013
Mamut Art Project, Antrepo No. 3, Istanbul, Turkey
2012
Hovering between Yesterday and Tomorrow, Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, Japan *
2012
Water Tower Art Fest, Laboratory of the Bulgarian Rose, Sofia, Bulgaria
2012
Eat Art, Museum Hartberg, Hartberg, Austria
2011
AIZ 11 Exhibition, Aizpute City Festival, Aizpute, Latvia
2010/11
Supermarket Art Fair, Kulterhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2009
Artprize 2009, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
2009
Long Distance Call, Hotel Maria Kapel, Hoorn, The Netherlands
2009
Gender Trouble, Yerevan, Armenia
2008
Necessary Discourse on Hysteria, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
2008
Sinopale, the Second Sinop Biennial, Sinop, Turkey
2008
Fama_Fame / Fame_Hunger, Kunstlerhaus S11, Solothurn, Switzerland
2008
Art is my Playground, Kücük Çiftlik Amusement Park, Istanbul, Turkey
2008
Tehran Biennial, Hafriyat Karaköy, Istanbul, Turkey - Berlin, Germany - Belgrade, Serbia
2008
Love Difference Pastries, CAMeC Modern/Contemporary Art Center, La Spezia, Italy
2007
Hanging Around, Phoenex WEST, Dortmund, Germany
2005
The Mouse, Global Arts Village, New Delhi, India
2003
Visceral Consumption, Delta Properties Warehouse, Grand Rapids, MI, USA *
2003
Paper/Plastic, Free Radical Gallery Site, Grand Rapids, MI, USA *
2002 He Said, She Said...Is anyone Listening?, C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI, USA
2002
Kaboom, Museum of New Art, Detroit, MI, USA
* solo exhibitions
Arts Consultancy / Administration
2005-12 Res Artis, worldwide network of artist residencies
website editor, communications, content development, special projects
2006
Apothiki Art Center, Paros/Athens, Greece
artist residency consultant, residency program development
2006
Cyril Lixemberg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
documented the extensive Dutch print collection of Cyril Lixemberg
2005
UfaFabrik International Culture Center, Berlin, Germany
Res Artis conference coordinator and documentor, conference book editor
2005
re:mix Festival
Development/ initiation of an international Red Bull nomadic fusion arts and music festival
2005
Global Arts Village, New Delhi, India
international residency coordinator, program developer and manager
2004
Artrain USA, Allesee Fellow, throughout the USA
art museum inside a train – traveling tour staff member, gift shop manager, demonstrating artist, press spokesperson
2003
Camp Kippewa for Girls, Monmouth, USA
art department head, supervised 14 staff members who instructed 120 children, managed classes/studios, produced publications/exhibitions
1995-2003
Arts & Scraps, Detroit, USA
arts instructor, volunteer, graphic designer
2002
Detroit Science Center Detroit, USA
exhibit designer and fabricator
1999-2002
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA
Ceramics Studio Assistant
2000
EA Graphics, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Graphic Designer
1996-98
Children’s Museum of Detroit, Detroit, MI, USA
Arts Instructor
Biography
Julie Upmeyer is an artist and initiator who creates sculptures and objects, performances and
installations. Growing up amongst the recycled industrial materials of her mother’s non-profit
organization, she developed a love for transforming materials of all sorts. In art school at Grand
Valley State University she studied ceramics, sculpture, and graphic design.
From her studio in the hardware district of Istanbul, she creates works that combines her many
passions: layers and labor - - - dimensions and dedication to craft - - - systems, substances, and
shiny things.
Her work is often the direct result of her manipulation of a chosen material, other times she enjoys
the challenge of responding to a specific space, place, or theme. Her artworks, projects, and exhibitions have taken her all over the world. She is instinctively drawn to artist residencies – which
to her are a perfect combination of production, surprise, and international connectedness. She
co-founded Caravansarai, a residency program and art production space in Istanbul and has had
the pleasure of attending several different residencies as an artist.
www.julieupmeyer.com
www.caravansarai.info
julie.upmeyer@gmail.com
+90 (0) 538 379 8556
updated April 2016