PROXIMITY
Cynthia Greig
Inspired by the poetic rhythms of human respiration, my multi-media exhibition, “Proximity,” explores human breath as imprint, marking our presence as proof of our living, physical embodiment. Each of our breaths resonate with the pulsing of the universe and—no matter age, race, religion, gender, or politics—commingle in the atmosphere across the continuum of time. Emulating the fleeting forms of a child’s breath exhaled onto a chilled window pane, I invite friends and family to breathe onto a transparent glass surface, recording its vaporous residue before it fades from view. As disembodied portraits, their illuminated nebulous forms float against a dark void, revealing that just like a fingerprint or snowflake—no two breaths are alike. Each inhalation and exhalation marks the passing of time. I look to breath as a metaphor for expressing the temporality of human existence while marveling at its power to animate flesh and bone as a call to embrace the vitality of our being and belonging.
Although I began my “Experiments in Breathing” long before the global pandemic, the work took on new meaning as forced isolation increased awareness of our own breathing and bodies in relation to another’s. The newly introduced practice of social distancing transformed our lives as we silently measured “six feet” between us and them; virtual rather than in-person encounters became a preferred form of communication.The three-dimensional works in particular consider the weight of a labored breath hindered by infection or compromised lungs.
During a time when news of school shootings, political unrest and war dominate the daily airwaves, it seems more important than ever to assert the value of life, to stand as if a child in awe of one’s own breath. “Proximity" offers a meditation on the invisible forces and processes that sustain life. Echoing William Blake’s call to “see a world in a grain of sand” and “eternity in an hour,” the works invite the audience to look anew at what we otherwise might take for granted, and regard the wonder of the everyday as we contemplate our existence and revel in its presence, substance and power. Ultimately, “Proximity” finds connection rather than division, inviting the audience to consider living itself as a creative act in the face of our own inevitable mortality, and what has always been an uncertain future.
Cynthia Greig
BIO
Born and raised in Detroit, Cynthia Greig earned her MFA in photography from the University of Michigan in 1995 after studying art history (MA) and filmmaking at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) and printmaking (BFA) at Washington University (St Louis, MO). Her work has been exhibited both in the US and internationally, and reviewed in publications including Art Week, Art News, New Art Examiner, Brooklyn Rail, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Art Review, Flint Journal, Los Angeles Times, and the Toronto Star. Her work is held in the collections of Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Museum of Contemporary Photography (Chicago), George Eastman Museum (Rochester, NY), Light Work (Syracuse, NY), Museum of Contemporary Art (London), Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (Brampton, ON) and Smith College Museum of Art. Co-author of the book, “Women in Pants: Manly Maidens, Cowgirls and Other Renegades” (Harry N. Abrams, 2003) with Cate Smith, Greig writes and curates on an independent basis including texts for exhibitions on artists Peter Finnemore, John Dempsey and Andy Warhol, among others.
Cynthia Greig
Inspired by the poetic rhythms of human respiration, my multi-media exhibition, “Proximity,” explores human breath as imprint, marking our presence as proof of our living, physical embodiment. Each of our breaths resonate with the pulsing of the universe and—no matter age, race, religion, gender, or politics—commingle in the atmosphere across the continuum of time. Emulating the fleeting forms of a child’s breath exhaled onto a chilled window pane, I invite friends and family to breathe onto a transparent glass surface, recording its vaporous residue before it fades from view. As disembodied portraits, their illuminated nebulous forms float against a dark void, revealing that just like a fingerprint or snowflake—no two breaths are alike. Each inhalation and exhalation marks the passing of time. I look to breath as a metaphor for expressing the temporality of human existence while marveling at its power to animate flesh and bone as a call to embrace the vitality of our being and belonging.
Although I began my “Experiments in Breathing” long before the global pandemic, the work took on new meaning as forced isolation increased awareness of our own breathing and bodies in relation to another’s. The newly introduced practice of social distancing transformed our lives as we silently measured “six feet” between us and them; virtual rather than in-person encounters became a preferred form of communication.The three-dimensional works in particular consider the weight of a labored breath hindered by infection or compromised lungs.
During a time when news of school shootings, political unrest and war dominate the daily airwaves, it seems more important than ever to assert the value of life, to stand as if a child in awe of one’s own breath. “Proximity" offers a meditation on the invisible forces and processes that sustain life. Echoing William Blake’s call to “see a world in a grain of sand” and “eternity in an hour,” the works invite the audience to look anew at what we otherwise might take for granted, and regard the wonder of the everyday as we contemplate our existence and revel in its presence, substance and power. Ultimately, “Proximity” finds connection rather than division, inviting the audience to consider living itself as a creative act in the face of our own inevitable mortality, and what has always been an uncertain future.
Cynthia Greig
BIO
Born and raised in Detroit, Cynthia Greig earned her MFA in photography from the University of Michigan in 1995 after studying art history (MA) and filmmaking at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) and printmaking (BFA) at Washington University (St Louis, MO). Her work has been exhibited both in the US and internationally, and reviewed in publications including Art Week, Art News, New Art Examiner, Brooklyn Rail, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Art Review, Flint Journal, Los Angeles Times, and the Toronto Star. Her work is held in the collections of Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Museum of Contemporary Photography (Chicago), George Eastman Museum (Rochester, NY), Light Work (Syracuse, NY), Museum of Contemporary Art (London), Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (Brampton, ON) and Smith College Museum of Art. Co-author of the book, “Women in Pants: Manly Maidens, Cowgirls and Other Renegades” (Harry N. Abrams, 2003) with Cate Smith, Greig writes and curates on an independent basis including texts for exhibitions on artists Peter Finnemore, John Dempsey and Andy Warhol, among others.
Proximity Inventory
16. Breath Scan Portraits, 48 8x8 inch archival pigment prints mounted on Dibond displayed on 6 shelves, wood, paint, 74” x 84” x 3”, 2021
17.
Proximity II, digital video loop, 2 min 30 sec., 16:9, 2025
Breath as Time, digital video loop, 2 min. 30 sec, 16:9, 2025
18. Ascent (The Weight of Breath), charcoal, mirror, oxidized steel stand
52” x 12” x 14”, 2023
19.
Gridded Breath, digital video loop, 2 min 26 sec. 16:9, 2025
Infinite Wheel, digital video loop, 3 min. 16:9, 2025
20. CAPTURE, faux fur, paint, wood, acrylic, motion detector, light, 56 x 12 x 12”, 2023
21. Flicker (Breath Re-Animated), digital video loop, 1 min 52 sec.,16:9, 2023
22. PROJECTED VIDEOS:
Breath on Sunrise—the Distance between the Earth and Sun,
digital video loop, 1 min 37 sec., 16:9, 2025
Digi Pneuma, digital video loop, 2 min 21 sec., 16:9, 2023
Meadow Mandala, digital video loop, 1min. 59 sec., 16:9, 2025
Embers (Breath as Fire), digital video loop, 52 sec., 16:9, 2023 Breathscape, digital video loop, 1 min 58 sec., 16:9, 2015
23. Artifacts of Breathing, 4 12 x 16 inch digital color photographs mounted to acrylic displayed on shelf, 13 x 84 x 3”, 2023
Over the past twenty-some years I’ve been fortunate to have exhibited with Buckham Gallery in several group and two-person (with L.E. Young-Siri) exhibitions in it’s former location at a 134-1/2 2nd Street during which time I’ve developed a special relationship with Flint, its arts community, and made many good friends including former Buckham members and Mott faculty and staff members John Dempsey, Brian Liljeblad and Cate Smith. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Buckham’s exhibition committee for selecting my work and giving me the opportunity to exhibit “Proximity” at its new 2nd Street gallery space, and to Gallery Director, Michele LeClaire as well as Brian Liljeblad for their patience, support and assistance with installing my work, Rich Smith for his unwavering love and support, and creative input and collaborative expertise while editing videos with me, and L.E. Young-Siri— not only for her friendship—but her creative energy and idea to propose out first video installation, Forever was Never Until Now, to Buckham that was ultimately exhibited in 2015. Thank you—we hope you’ll enjoy the show!
-Cynthia Greg
16. Breath Scan Portraits, 48 8x8 inch archival pigment prints mounted on Dibond displayed on 6 shelves, wood, paint, 74” x 84” x 3”, 2021
17.
Proximity II, digital video loop, 2 min 30 sec., 16:9, 2025
Breath as Time, digital video loop, 2 min. 30 sec, 16:9, 2025
18. Ascent (The Weight of Breath), charcoal, mirror, oxidized steel stand
52” x 12” x 14”, 2023
19.
Gridded Breath, digital video loop, 2 min 26 sec. 16:9, 2025
Infinite Wheel, digital video loop, 3 min. 16:9, 2025
20. CAPTURE, faux fur, paint, wood, acrylic, motion detector, light, 56 x 12 x 12”, 2023
21. Flicker (Breath Re-Animated), digital video loop, 1 min 52 sec.,16:9, 2023
22. PROJECTED VIDEOS:
Breath on Sunrise—the Distance between the Earth and Sun,
digital video loop, 1 min 37 sec., 16:9, 2025
Digi Pneuma, digital video loop, 2 min 21 sec., 16:9, 2023
Meadow Mandala, digital video loop, 1min. 59 sec., 16:9, 2025
Embers (Breath as Fire), digital video loop, 52 sec., 16:9, 2023 Breathscape, digital video loop, 1 min 58 sec., 16:9, 2015
23. Artifacts of Breathing, 4 12 x 16 inch digital color photographs mounted to acrylic displayed on shelf, 13 x 84 x 3”, 2023
Over the past twenty-some years I’ve been fortunate to have exhibited with Buckham Gallery in several group and two-person (with L.E. Young-Siri) exhibitions in it’s former location at a 134-1/2 2nd Street during which time I’ve developed a special relationship with Flint, its arts community, and made many good friends including former Buckham members and Mott faculty and staff members John Dempsey, Brian Liljeblad and Cate Smith. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Buckham’s exhibition committee for selecting my work and giving me the opportunity to exhibit “Proximity” at its new 2nd Street gallery space, and to Gallery Director, Michele LeClaire as well as Brian Liljeblad for their patience, support and assistance with installing my work, Rich Smith for his unwavering love and support, and creative input and collaborative expertise while editing videos with me, and L.E. Young-Siri— not only for her friendship—but her creative energy and idea to propose out first video installation, Forever was Never Until Now, to Buckham that was ultimately exhibited in 2015. Thank you—we hope you’ll enjoy the show!
-Cynthia Greg
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Buckham Gallery is funded by the following organizations:
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Generous support is provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
This program is sponsored by the Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grant Program made possible by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Millage funds. Your tax dollars are at work!
This program is sponsored by the Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grant Program made possible by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Millage funds. Your tax dollars are at work!
