Joel Sonstroem

Artist’s Statement

Created in 2009, this screen print was designed as a self-portrait. I have often felt that I have been the kind of person people can rely on to stay consistent, no matter what happens in other areas. The medium creates a uniform tonality that reflects the universal passage of time, and the object itself, an hourglass, is an elegant and balanced way to show that passage. The object is placed stoically in the middle of the piece to again emphasize its consistency. The simplicity of the black and gray is a representation of my drive to constantly make things simpler and more efficient. The piece is also designed to have universal appeal, since we all have limited time as those sands in the hourglass continue to fall.