Director: Alette Simmons-Jiménez

Film: A hand-drawn chalkboard animation by Alette Simmons-Jimenez using line to record bitstream type memories of a recent road trip in search of early childhood roots. This work was conceived for The Drawing Project, curated by Emmy Mathis in 2013 and sponsored by Frost Art Museum at Florida International University.

A hand-drawn chalkboard animation by Alette Simmons-Jimenez using line to document bitstream-type memories of a recent road trip in search of early childhood roots. This work was conceived for The Drawing Project, curated by Emmy Mathis in 2013 and sponsored by Frost Art Museum at Florida International University.

From the very beginning drawing was a tool that allowed us to record a memory, an image, a sensation, or an experience… something we didn’t want to forget. I lived in Northern Italy as a young child, during the time they call “your most formative years”. The first words I learned to speak were in Italian. I was only recently able to travel back. I was startled by the immediate visceral connection. I drove from Milan to the lakes of Northern Italy, on to the village of neighboring Soglio, Switzerland, and back through mountain peaks where Michelangelo visited marble quarries, then along ragged ocean cliffs, through Florence and on to vineyards in the heart of Tuscany.

“Hush The Sky” is a short, spontaneous, art/documentary video, running 1:59min. using hand-drawn animation employing drawn lines culled from personal travel pics that record memories of the journey. The stream of images comes together on a chalkboard, filmed in real time, with markings and erasures. The resulting animation of designs and patterns, link back and forth, from nature to the built environment – from Medieval to Modern. Beginning with a wish I made, blowing the delicate seeds of a dandelion into the wind, the animation follows memories as they jump into consciousness. The audio portion is the actual sound recorded while drawing/erasing, with the distortions that occurred during editing.

Bio: Alette Simmons-Jiménez’s work starts conceptually at the intersection where humans interact with the natural order of the world. At the core is an exploration of the dual existence of freedoms and responsibilities, humanity aligned or against nature. The artist uses an intricate scheme of audience interaction with space and form combined with metaphorical elements relating to the double existence of man and the metaphysical.

Born in Madison Wisconsin, she received a BFA from Newcomb College, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; later relocating to the Dominican Republic, to live and work for 18 years. In 1992 she was attributed to being the first woman in Dominican history to exhibit work in video installation. Currently based in Miami, Florida she is the recipient of numerous awards as well as state fellowships, grants, and artist residencies.

Her studio practice has led to international solo and group exhibitions with her video and video installation work presented in museums, private galleries, and screenings at film venues such as Optica Festival 07, (Young Jury Award) Gijon, Spain; Medianoche, Digital Media Gallery, East Harlem; CIRCA 06 Cor(H)itos, twice at Optic Nerve in the MOCA Miami; the Atlanta Arts Festival; the Bienal Nacional (1st Prize, Video) in Santo Domingo; Eyedrum in Atlanta; the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, New Media Lounge; the Louisville Film Festival; the Living Room/Unaffiliated Art Basel Show Miami; and twice on Maryland Public Television’s Independent Eye Program as well as numerous other institutions.