David Skeens
A Brief History of Suburbia
About the Artwork
Transcription of A Brief History of Suburbia:
“Our house, in the middle of our street”
– Our House, Madness
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SUBURBIA
I’ll never live there with you or anyone you should know right now. No future inside those houses like eunuchs where the only difference between two centuries is a faux finish.
Curatorial Opinion
David Skeens makes visual, poetic prints using iconic song lyrics and quotes by artists and writers. First, he gives the lyrics that set the stage and tone for the poetry that follows. They invite you in for an intimate conversation, the kind of running dialogue some of us use to narrate our inner worlds. The poetry fires off like neurons in the shape of phrases. Each mise-en-scene has pain and redemption, drawing from pop culture as well as mythology. Cliches mix with tender entreaty, making the reader into a confidante.
About the Process
Haystack works with both traditional printmakers and digital printers to ensure each artist’s print reflects the most important aspects of their studio practice. A Brief History of Suburbia was printed in collaboration with the artist and Forth Estate at Axelle Editions (a renowned printmaking studio active from 2005 – 2015). Each print was created by silkscreen printing (also known as serigraphy). This method requires stenciling techniques wherein ink is pressed onto paper through deliberately exposed areas of a mesh screen one color at a time.
