By
Kate VonderPorten
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Local painter explores issues of space and self in Hotel Congress exhibit
Local artist Catherine Eyde is out of this world - at least, her artwork is.
Her work - currently on display at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., and the adjoining cafe, The Cup - portrays women in outer space as a metaphor for the limitless freedom of choice and change that should be available to them.
"My latest exhibition, 'Women in Space,' has to do with changing your environment and changing your life (as a woman), removing obstacles and exploring possibilities," said Eyde, who has lived in Tucson for five years.
Bold and colorful with a playful surreal influence, Eyde's watermedia on canvas and watercolor on paper involves women portrayed in retro spacesuits, fantasy settings, whimsical imagery and surreal land- and spacescapes.
Traditionally, males have dominated the space sciences and thus, through her work, Eyde has recontextualized space travel to symbolize volition and freedom for women.
"I have had many women involved in space science interested in my work," Eyde said. "It is refreshing for them to see women depicted in actual spacesuits."
Though Eyde depicts only women, she regards her work as applicable to both sexes.
"Although the figures depicted mostly in my works are women, I believe the content is gender neutral," she said.
Eyde said she is aware of the debt she owes to female artists that forged a path for women in a traditionally male-dominated art world.
"I am grateful to the many women who paved the way to make a place for women in the arts but I do not consider myself a 'feminist artist' because the work is not political and does not deal solely with women's issues," Eyde said. "My art is about the human condition and spirit, the paths we choose or that choose us, and how they, in turn, change us temporarily or forever" Eyde stated in a written commentary.
Paying homage to her Middle Eastern heritage, Eyde often includes Arabic script in her more recent work such as "escape" in which a spacesuited girl carries a suitcase emblazoned with Arabic script.
"The Arabic in my art adds decoration and text to the work in a less obvious way than if the words were written in English," Eyde stated. "The words are specifically chosen for the intended piece. The use of Arabic script connects me to my heritage and my late father who was of Middle Eastern descent."
Eyde creates her work based on journals that she keeps and refers to for inspiration.
"I keep these journals of drawings and review them periodically as they are my reference books," she stated. "Sometimes in weeks, months or even a year later, the pages reveal their meaning to me. It is then that I am able to develop them into a complete work of art."
Eyde thus finds a strong connection between the events of her life and her artwork.
"My artwork strongly reflects my life and present environment," Eyde said. "For example, the most recent direction (of my work) explores a psychological journey much inspired by my art residency in Vermont last summer."
In this manner, Eyde said her work is a way to reclaim her identity - as a way of "knowing yourself and taking yourself back" - and creating a space for herself and women in general in a male-dominated world.
"My work is about finding strength in life," Eyde said.
"Women in Space" can be seen at Hotel Congress through March 23.
