Phobias and obsessions on display

Atlanta-based Artist Sarah Hobbs to Hold First Solo Museum Exhibition The Knoxville Museum of Art will hold artist Sarah Hobbs’ first solo museum exhibition December 17, 2004–April 3, 2005 as part of the museum’s SubUrban series.    The Atlanta-based photographer first creates installations that she then photographs.  Her large-scale photographs, as large as 4 feet x 5 feet, are primarily images of psychological states of mind.  Some photographs are titled, untitled (perfectionist), untitled (obsessive ness) and untitled (memory loss).     “We are thrilled to be able to offer Sarah Hobbs her first solo museum exhibition as part of SubUrban.  Her portrayal of phobias and obsessions in a humorous and reflective way is something that nearly everyone can relate to,” says Todd D. Smith, executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art.  “Hobbs’ work is what SubUrban is all about, offering emerging artists a chance to share their creations of thoughtful, innovative, and engaging work.”   Hobbs’ photographs examine how common emotions, such as indecisiveness; perfectionism and others might visually and physically manifest themselves.  By creating a theatrical setting in which she creates her version of these mental states, Hobbs can examine how one might experience certain compulsions, emotions, or conditions.  Her approach is often humorous, but deeply empathetic.    For instance, in untitled (perfectionist), Hobbs creates a room in which a desk is dwarfed by an enormous stack of crumpled papers that threaten to overtake the workspace.  The mountain of crumpled papers, while formally beautiful, deftly illustrates the feelings one may have when things do not seem to go just right.  While that many drafts may not actually be tossed away, it may feel as if they are, and that shared empathy is at the heart of Hobbs’ work.  Hobbs understands the overwhelming sensation of these emotional experiences and by exaggerating their effect, she effectively communicates these psychological and emotional states.