Dia de los Muertos 2019 Artist Exhibition | Artist Bio
Chelsea McIntyre is a Long Beach artist of primarily Scots-Irish descent, whose family emigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in the 1840s, during the Great Potato Famine.
Like many American-born Scots-Irish transplants, Chelsea feels a disconnect between her roots in the U.S. and the heritage, history and culture of her motherland. When the Scots-Irish entered into citizenship in the U.S. they faced the ever-present xenophobic culture that has patterned its way throughout American history, resulting in a need for her ancestors to assimilate, hide and deject their homeland traditions for the safety and security of their families.
The Scots-Irish of the U.S. today no longer face the same cultural (and religious) persecution, but like many other cultures, they had to deny and erase part of their identities to do so, leaving only traces of what was once a rich and unique way of life in the “New World”.
As a 5th generation American, Chelsea, like many among her kinsman, searches for links between her modern experience as a Scots-Irishman and those who came before her. One of her favorite anecdotes about her own history is one of the oldest: the origin of her last name.
A lifelong builder, Chelsea finds solace and belonging in her name: McIntyre, or “Son of the Carpenter”. She descends from a long line of creative, tactile makers—who harbor a bit of a rebellious side. The birth tale of her ancestral surname provides a connection to her past more meaningful than any she has yet found.
Chelsea works in a variety of three-dimensional and time-based mediums, exploring themes of psychoanalysis, abjection and wit that she hopes would make her cunning ancestors proud.
Learn more about Chelsea McIntyre and her work at http://chelseamcintyre.weebly.com.
Like many American-born Scots-Irish transplants, Chelsea feels a disconnect between her roots in the U.S. and the heritage, history and culture of her motherland. When the Scots-Irish entered into citizenship in the U.S. they faced the ever-present xenophobic culture that has patterned its way throughout American history, resulting in a need for her ancestors to assimilate, hide and deject their homeland traditions for the safety and security of their families.
The Scots-Irish of the U.S. today no longer face the same cultural (and religious) persecution, but like many other cultures, they had to deny and erase part of their identities to do so, leaving only traces of what was once a rich and unique way of life in the “New World”.
As a 5th generation American, Chelsea, like many among her kinsman, searches for links between her modern experience as a Scots-Irishman and those who came before her. One of her favorite anecdotes about her own history is one of the oldest: the origin of her last name.
A lifelong builder, Chelsea finds solace and belonging in her name: McIntyre, or “Son of the Carpenter”. She descends from a long line of creative, tactile makers—who harbor a bit of a rebellious side. The birth tale of her ancestral surname provides a connection to her past more meaningful than any she has yet found.
Chelsea works in a variety of three-dimensional and time-based mediums, exploring themes of psychoanalysis, abjection and wit that she hopes would make her cunning ancestors proud.
Learn more about Chelsea McIntyre and her work at http://chelseamcintyre.weebly.com.
