Sarah Atlee was the local Artist in Residence for ARTSPACE at Untitled starting in January 2017. Her geometric abstractions in any medium are infused with the play between spontaneity and perfection. She explores the pure pleasure of placing color next to color, building a composition gradually over time, and honoring artisans of the past and present by building on tradition.
Atlee has chosen to reside in the Deep Deuce area, one that appears drastically different from what it was a century ago, where ARTSPACE at Untitled is located. By responding to the history and present-day character of Deep Deuce through creative work, she can gain a better understanding of the role each individual plays in the evolution of the city.
During her time with ARTSPACE at Untitled, Atlee created quilts using deconstructed garments and other reclaimed textiles. She also produced a limited-edition print in collaboration with Untitled; You Were Here, is a two-layer serigraph that dynamically utilizes the color of construction orange, epitomizing the growth and change of the Deep Deuce area. Atlee designed the print and the large quilt, Just Around the Corner, based on historical maps of the area, satellite imagery of Oklahoma City, and her own photographs of the urban environment detailing streets, walls, and railroad tracks.
Quilts, as an art form, are uniquely imbued with the memories of their makers. Across the globe, quilts are created to mark time and record history, both public and private. A quilt can simultaneously signify the history of one person and an entire people. In the Drawers and Quilt Diary series Atlee inspires a dialog regarding the public and personal narratives of everyday life.
