THOMAS EVERETT GREEN

My art is about addiction, homosexuality, HIV/Aids and religion. My personal experiences have included drastically disparate times of elation, manic depression, suicide, and deep and varied struggles in and out of serious drug addictions. I feel the majority of this has been brought on by societal rejection and feelings of inferiority initiated by religious tenets. The creation of my fictitious character and phantom artist Jett Feathers has enabled me to grossly exaggerate in presenting absurd, commonplace viewpoints about sexuality. Jett Feathers is also a vessel that enables me to make direct commentary to subject matters I am interested in, but not directly affected by such as HIV/AIDS.
My work initially develops through a lot of planning and patience. I will often create a series of work based on a particular concept I am interested in. The paintings are worked until I find a balance between the abstract and tangible. Some of my works are sealed with a resin and finished by either spray painting through stencils or injecting shellac into the wet resin. The organic disbursement of the shellac into the resin represents the presence of disease (AIDS). Syringes in my work are the representation of disease (be it alcohol or drugs). Religious iconography relates to an inner irony and conflict. And, finally, flamboyance, flames and garish colors allude to homosexuality and it’s tension with religious tenets.
Although themes and subject matter in my work are serious. Subject matter is often presented in a playful, campy manner with reference to the tacky and kitsch. I prefer my work to be direct and more obvious than vague. I would prefer viewers to walk away from my work with a grin than be intrigued or not understand the references I am making.

“Having stepped over the threshold into a heart of darkness, my intention is to expose its inner workings, ‘why it races’, ‘what causes it to beat’.” –Jett Feathers