Atteka Abdou lives and works in Summerville, GA and is a 2010 painting Master’s degree candidate for Savannah College of Art and Design. She has studied figure drawing at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. The artist has received a number of accolades including the Dr. Tommy Mew III Fellowship and five time Georgia Press Association First place News photo winner for The Summerville News. Her solo exhibitions include “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk” at the Moon Gallery, Rome, GA and site specific installation “Paradise Lost” at the Georgia Aquarium. Abdou has also exhibited at 3rd Ward Art Gallery, Brooklyn; Laconia Art Gallery, Boston, Museum of Contemporary Art, Washington DC; and Museum of Design, Atlanta. Public collections include the Chattooga County Library, GA and Dennis and Hyden Law Firm, GA. She is currently creating installation pieces that address plastic pollution and its destruction of marine ecosystems.
MP: What form of art are you majoring in?
I am majoring in painting with a Master’s degree from Savannah College of Art and Design.
MP: Did your childhood or family influence your decision to major in art?
Yes, as a young child, my earliest memories are of drawing and coloring. A friend of mine (who also graduated from SCAD a couple of years ago) and I would draw on our inspiration from our favorite movie, “Gone with the Wind”. He would design the houses, and I would create the people and costumes. Interestingly, he majored in Historic Preservation and I majored in painting. I also remember seeing paintings from a guidebook my mom got at the Louvre and being absolutely fascinated by not only the images but also the sculpture as well. I believe there were several influences from family, friends, and early exposure to art that helped shape my choice to be an artist. I can also remember the first time I went through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I abandoned thoughts of everything except painting.
MP: At what point did you know you wanted to major in art?
I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. I remember around age 7 seeing another film, “The Great Escape” and loving Donald Pleasance’s character because he would create the most amazing chalk drawings of birds. At that time I didn’t know his character was also portraying a forger! I’m sure I didn’t even know what that was. But it has been something that I have known “in my bones” since I was able to hold a pencil.
MP: So many change their major within the first year; what was the determining factor in your continuing your art career?
I had a great professor named Brian Barr who graduated from the New York Academy of Art. He introduced me to my two favorite subjects to draw: the human figure and octopuses. He set the groundwork for my figure drawing skills. After studying with him, I moved to New York and studied at Pratt Institute for a year and received further training in the human figure. Working with the models at Pratt proved to be vital to my drawing skills. After the brutally cold weather drove me back down south, I studied and graduated with my BA from Berry College. One of the most instrumental professors I have ever had was Dr. Tommy Mew, III. He is a well of knowledge when it comes to art. He began directing me in more contemporary methods and advanced my knowledge of a number of key artists including Duchamp, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. I credit him with setting me on the path that I am on today. Dr. Mew is an established artist in his own right and has exhibited his work extensively in Europe as well as the US.
MP: If you had not chosen to major in art, what would you be doing?
There is no telling. Looking back at my childhood, art class was my favorite time. It helped shape my desire to be an artist at such a young age. I have often asked myself the same question: what if I had not had the opportunity to go to art class…what would I be doing today? Not being an artist was never an option for me. To quote da Vinci, “it is my life.”
MP: Have any other artists substantially influenced your art work?
Oh definitely, there have been many influential artists. With figure drawing, Michelangelo’s drawings, Leonardo’s sketches, and the sculptures of Bernini were instrumental as well as the sketches and paintings of John Singer Sargent. With my current body of work, which is more contemporary and less figurative, I would say Duchamp, Lichtenstein, Warhol and Vaughn Bell all have played a great part. I am fascinated with the idea of painting and screenprinting on a clear surface. Duchamp’s “The Large Glass” first started my exploration of glass and Plexiglas as an alternative painting surface. My work then evolved into the freestanding Plexiglas objects that I arrange as installation pieces. Lichtenstein’s use of Ben Day dots also fascinates me. The pattern creates a gradient on the Plexiglas and I love the pattern of crisp, clean dots. And Warhol’s use of photo silkscreen techniques has been a guide for me as well. Vaughn Bell is an environmental artist who also uses Plexiglas to create biospheres that the viewers can interact with. Like Bell’s work, I encourage the viewers to interact with my pieces and view them from a number of angles.
MP: Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration can come in many forms, sometimes in sketches, other times in the lyrics of a song or a quote from a movie or book. Inspiration comes to me spontaneously and it is one reason I carry a sketchbook with me everywhere I go. I bought a great poem book at a small store in Savannah called “Poems of the Sea.” It has a number of poems from authors like Byron, Tennyson, Poe, and Milton. Their lyrical qualities and description further enhance my love for the sea and has prompted me to create a series of works entitled, “Paradise Lost.” These works address the issues of pollution of delicate marine habitats and my desire for the oceans to be returned to their pristine states. To me the poems represent a time before man had polluted the ocean and wreaked havoc on marine life.
MP: What role will your art degree play in your future career?
With graduation coming up in just a few weeks, I am using my degree to be an instructor at the college level. I have sent out some resumes to prospective instructor openings. I want to encourage art knowledge and promote students’ creativity and knowledge in art as well as operate a successful studio practice. With instrumental professors like Brian Barr and Dr. Mew, I want to help students in the same way these professors helped me. In addition to teaching, I am also exploring different galleries that may be interested in representing me.
MP: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing working artists today?
Without a doubt, it would be first finding a job. That is my main worry. Second, with the economy being in the state that it is, luxury items are usually the first to be cut from a person’s priority list and unfortunately, art ranks as one of those luxuries. I would be curious to know if art sales are up or down at galleries nationwide. I believe in addition to finding a steady job, artists face the difficult challenge of selling their work. I am afraid that the recession has damaged the art market and artists and galleries will feel the repercussion from it. Under normal economic standings, it is hard for an artist to earn a living just being an artist—usually they have some other job such as teaching to supplement their art sales. I believe prospective art students should realize this and understand it completely.
MP: Do you currently have your artwork on display and/or for sale?
Yes, my work can be viewed at my website www.attekaabdou.com. It highlights my current body of work addressing marine habitats and pollution. The photographs on the site were taken at the Georgia Aquarium, who was kind enough to allow me to photograph my work at their site. The Plexiglas works are for sale in addition to drawings, prints, and paintings. I have just recently created my website and will be updating it regularly and I encourage people to check it from time to time. My complete resume is also there.
NOTE: Each piece is named after the most polluted bodies of water.
Image 1: "Mediterranean 1" 30 x 20 x 10” acrylic paint, Plexiglas, screenprints, various screws and nuts. 2010. Price upon request.
Image 2: "Pacific" 30 x 28 x 6” acrylic paint, Plexiglas, screenprints, various screws and nuts. 2010. Price upon request.
Image 3: "Mediterranean 2" 30 x 20 x 10” acrylic paint, Plexiglas, screenprints, various screws and nuts. (DETAIL) 2010. Price upon request.
Image 4: "Indian" 36 x 30 x 9” acrylic paint, Plexiglas, screenprints, various screws and nuts. 2010. Price upon request.
Image 5: "Atlantic" 32 x 30 x 7” acrylic paint, Plexiglas, screenprints, various screws and nuts. 2010. Price upon request.
Atteka can be contacted via her website, but please note she will be graduating from SCAD in 4 weeks after which you will need to use her AOL email address listed on her contact page.
Congratulations Atteka on all of your achievements. We wish you all the best for an art filled future.
