Cecelia Moseley: The Color Test
The Color Test, an exhibition of four installations by artist Cecelia Moseley, depicts the artist’s relationship to color, light, and letterforms which were shaped by her dyslexia growing up. A “color test” for dyslexia involves overlaying colored plastic over pages of text to help differentiate letter forms.
How did your art journey start?
My journey as an artist began during childhood, I vividly remember going into my dads tool room and going through boxes of colorful old telephone wires. I took the wires up to my room and I started to bend the wire into many different shapes. I made butterflies and other insects and attached them to my ceiling fan to watch them spin around my room. Going to college, I wanted to be a painter or photographer because that’s what I thought an artist looked like. However, I took my first sculpture class freshman year in 2016 and enjoyed it, but still was not sure until I was a sophomore that I was meant to be a sculptor. When asked this question “How did your art journey start?” I reflect on always creating sculpture in my free time even though I didn’t realize I was making sculptures as a kid. Being a sculpture I get to do and be a part of all art mediums and I could not imagine being any other kind of artist.
What was the inspiration behind this collection of artwork?
The inspiration for this work came from reflecting on the tools I used when I was a kid to help me learn. I have always been fascinated and intrigued with color and this show became that outlet for exploration of translucent color overlays.
Did you face any challenges with the materials you used?
The challenging piece in this exhibition was “Highlight” which is the styrofoam and acrylic piece. This piece had a balancing attachment challenge in which I had to attach a piece of wood into the back inside of the styrofoam in order to have it hanging properly on the wall.
Tell us about your creative process for the screen print works.
My creative process for creating these screen print works came from the jumbled feeling I have when looking at text and making a visual explanation to how at times I feel overwhelmed. The layers of vivid ink colors express multiple sides of my feelings towards my struggles and learning process dealing with dyslexia.
How has your art practice developed during the MFA Sculpture program at LSU?
My art has expanded into exploring new materials while I have been pursuing my MFA at Louisiana State University. I typically in the past would characterize myself as a metal caster and fabricator, but since LSU I have pushed myself into using new materials that speak on challenges and tools that I used as a kid.
The Color Test is on display at the Meadows Museum from March 21 - May 5, 2023.