1 February 2014

Bryan Lewis Saunders & Nicole Bailey

"Sensations"

Catalyst Projects

Address and Contact info:

Catalyst Projects

716 Monroe St NE

Studio 13

Washington, DC 20017

catalystartprojects@gmail.com

www.catalystartprojects.com

Sediment Arts:

Address and Contact info:

Sediment Arts

208 East Grace Street

Richmond, VA 23219

sedimentarts@gmail.com

www.sedimentarts.org

Galerie d'Art HumuS:

Address and Contact info:

Galerie Humus

Rue des Terreaux 18bis

Lausanne, Switzerland 1003

librairie@humus-art.com

www.humus-art.com

ARTIST STATEMENTS:

I chose to exhibit the Sensations drawings for the similarities in perceptions of good sensations between people of different sexes and genders. These drawings show a consenting, loving relationship outside of the porn and television industry, "Family Values" politicians, the Church, evolutionary psychology scenarios, and celebrity paparazzi photos.

As I wasn't responsible for the concept of illustrating sensations, I used many of my drawings as opportunities to "feel out" myself in space to challenge my body image issues.

The similarities in the sensations between someone who draws himself every day, with clear perception of himself, and someone younger, who avoids mirrors and has had fewer life experiences, is the pleasant, unexpected result. - Nicole Bailey

On March 30th 1995 I started drawing at least one self-portrait everyday for the rest of my life. One of the discoveries that emerged from this act was the awareness that every single physical sensation that occurs spontaneously inside my body is to some degree painful. With the exception of ticklish itches on the surface of my skin, I have never had the experience of one of my bones, muscles, joints or internal organs just randomly start emitting feelings of pleasure. The body doesn't work like that. As a solitary creature my body only creates sensations when it wants to let me know something is wrong. When all is right I feel nothing. That along with the fact that every pain asks me to make sense of it, or take meaning from it, makes pain seem dominant and controlling and yet totally absurd. Positive pleasurable feelings must always take effort and need to be prompted or provoked.

As an intimate social creature things are different and one can easily be overwhelmed by pleasurable sensations inside the body when interacting with a partner. Over a period of several weeks Nicole helped me document this awareness by drawing these sensations 'in the moment' (while we were experiencing them) often with beautiful, exciting and playful results. - Bryan Saunders