Cassandra
Barney
"My hope is that people will find a connection with
the images I create; a thread that will hold them to a captured
moment of insight and reflection" says artist Cassandra
Christensen Barney. " My portraits don't always feature
the outwardly pretty or majestic, yet they all share a quiet
beauty that ask us to listen and to feel. Within my work, I
share various objects that have become personally significant
to me, creating small internal narratives, with the hope that
these will resonate with the viewer. The bird tucked into the
blouse of the woman, nestled close to her heart, represents
my nuturing feelings toward those I love. Radiant butterflies
have become my symbol of how quickly my daughters grow and change,
and the feeling that as they grow they move farther and farther
away. And, amongst all these are woven symbols and motifs celebrating
the strengths and ultimate complexity of the feminine nature.
My work reflects my personal narrative, yet my intent as an
artist is to create an experience that will allow the viewer
to bring new interpretations to the symbols, thereby allowing
the viewer to create his or her own narrative, own sense of
understanding and place."
Christensen Barney was born and raised in Orem, Utah. She
received her Master's degree in Fine Arts from Brigham Young
University in 2000. Life is truly art at Christensen Barney's
home as her husband is also an artist and teacher. Her three
daughters enjoy creating alongside their parents. In addition
to her own children, Barney encourages many others to explore
the world of art. She taught at The Waterford School for four
years and continues to teach part time at BYU. |
