American interdisciplinary artist Kim Abeles (70 yrs. old) was born August 28, 1952, in Richmond Height, Missouri. Though currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Abeles is an artist but also an activist which through her work makes social statements in how the world and society is like. Some of the artwork makes statements on topics of feminism, the environment, and social nature and more[1]. She has made very impactful contribution to the world of art along with the community that she has received many awards.
Abeles received her Bachler's in Fine Art from Ohio University in painting.
Along with in 1980 earing a Master of Fine Arts at the University of California, Irvine, which her thesis led her to create a constriction incorporating kimono. Due to it being about Shingen Buddhism.[2]
Abeles has pulled from her childhood and life experiences which reflect in her work, and in doing has been able to artistically interpret art in many forms.
Smog Collection: Is a collection that reflects on the kind of air society is breathing in, showing the pollution that a person takes in due to the impact society has on the environment[3]. Reflecting that the damage humanity puts out will comeback, causing a detrimental effect on society and therefore their health. This was a remined of her hometown, "steel town" and further got inspiration when moving to Los Angeles in seeing the smog that was over the city. Forty Days of Smog, this would be the final result of smog in the air and how it gets on to everything that can be harming to children.
Citizen Seeds (Group exhibition); is a series of six sculptors that runs along the park to Playa trail in Los Angeles. Each sculptor is a different plant seed native to Southern California that is split right down the middle. And on it indicates to were on the trail someone is at that exact moment[4].
Walk a Mile in My Shoes (exhibition); Is inspired by Native American and a poem by Mary T. Lathrap. To which alludes that in order to understand what someone has gone or going through one must "see it" from their perspective or "walk in their shoes" understand what the hardships are and moving forward. Abele's while doing her own research for this piece came across a collection by Xernona Clayton[5] of shoes that belonged to civile right activist. That were later photographed and added to the piece as a whole.
Valises for Campground. Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains is contribution with female inmates of Camp 13 in creating sculptures that would be used by LA Fire Department and National Park Serves on educating the public on fire prevention, and the harmonious relationship with nature.
One of the 6 sculpturs part of the exhibition, this being a black walnut seed.
A view from different angles of the exhibition " Walk a Mile in My Shoes."
