Tales of the Absolute and the Preposterous

“Tales of the Absolute and Preposterous” calls upon historical references, art history, iconography, and escapist literature. Overturf elaborates upon existing tales that predict the end of the world, end of humanity, or a switch in consciousness. Some of these tales come from religious texts, others have been appropriated from popular culture and recent historical events, such as Y2K and the Mayan Doomsday. She then creates her own predictions of the end, presented with the same authority as existing prophecies. Embellishment, plausibility and the direction in which this authority is used is entirely dependent on HER intent.

Edie Overturf received her BFA from Southern Illinois University, and her MFA from California State University Chico. She co-founded LegUp Studio, a cooperative printshop in NE Minneapolis, and teaches in the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota. Overturf has a practice rooted in traditional printmaking and narrative. Through her narrative based work she questions the act of storytelling and its effect on cultural structures and personal history.

Image: Edie Overturf’s Slate, Woodcut and monotype, 2016.

See our Artist Profile of Edie Overturf from January 2017