Alexandra Samios
There are things that don’t exist in the world— is it realism or abstraction to make a recognizable drawing of a fantasy object or person? Is a book art? Is a line representational, or abstract? Is it yet more abstract as poetry?
Using drawing, bookmaking, paper manipulation, and poetry, I explore the world through a filter of art, testing my ability to see. The fantasy that is representation. How a word repeated becomes a prayer. The shattering of expectations that is abstraction. The beautiful object and the useful object, and whether we can, or should, distinguish one from the other. The images here represent my latest exploration into bookmaking and paste papers, in particular blank journals, calendars, and recipe books that, while meant for use, cross the line into art objects. Visit my website to see additional journals as well as more sculptural artist books as well as drawings.
How I got here: I have been involved in art making in Evanston/Chicago since 1978, with numerous group and solo shows, works in corporate and private collections, and curating. I was the gallery manager at Contemporary Art Workshop, where I also served on the board until their closing in 2010, and have shown at the Illinois State Fair, Illinois State Museum Invitational, College of DuPage, Bernal Gallery, A. R. C. Gallery, Artemisia Gallery, and elsewhere. More recent shows include Old Courthouse Arts Center in McHenry IL, Friendzone Gallery and WomanMade Gallery in Chicago, and The WasteShed/Evanston Glass Case Gallery. Studio in southwest Evanston open by appointment.
Email: alexandra.samios@gmail.com
Website:https://www.
Website: https://xanhaiku.wordpress.com/
Instagram: @houseofthebluelights
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandrasDrawings
Blue Sky: @xanboni.bsky.social
Shop Evanston Made: Alexandra Samios