Thesis Work
"Gravity"
Gravity is a site specific installation that uses traditional blacksmithing techniques to create seemingly dropping and melting steel “organisms.” These creatures come from dark portals fixed on the walls and emerge from pedestal-like boxes; shelves and platforms stretch out to meet the organisms as they fall; all are disguised to act like extensions of the surrounding environment. I fabricated the dripping and dropping creatures in a way that visually exaggerates the effects of gravity. This creates a visual fallacy between the steel’s natural rigidity and attached condition. The impression of the laws of physics on the organism cements the work in own environment and reality.
This series began after spending many hours sitting and observing the gallery space. When I was inside the empty gallery space, I began to notice these off moments of the space. They stuck out to me because there was nothing drawing my attention elsewhere. These moments contradicted the perceptions and labels of a finally polished, white-walled gallery space. I found myself drawn to these deformities and wanted to highlight there peculiarities because they felt so at odds with the galleries’ function to celebrate art. By exaggerating the idiosyncrasies of the space, the invading organisms create a sense of uncanniness, making the familiar strange.
Each swarm of creatures envelopes 5 inconsistencies of the space, camouflaging themselves into and calling attention to the imperfections of the space: a useful but unattractive group of electrical boxes, a large pillar that obstructs the viewer’s gaze, an outlet stranded alone in a corner, a crack that expands ominously to the ceiling, and an abandoned cluster of hidden outlets. By centralizing the off moments with the blacksmithed forms, I’m bringing these deformities to the level of a decorative object. What started as a project to highlight imperfections, became a mutually enhancing relationship between my work and the environment.
"Gravity"
Gravity is a site specific installation that uses traditional blacksmithing techniques to create seemingly dropping and melting steel “organisms.” These creatures come from dark portals fixed on the walls and emerge from pedestal-like boxes; shelves and platforms stretch out to meet the organisms as they fall; all are disguised to act like extensions of the surrounding environment. I fabricated the dripping and dropping creatures in a way that visually exaggerates the effects of gravity. This creates a visual fallacy between the steel’s natural rigidity and attached condition. The impression of the laws of physics on the organism cements the work in own environment and reality.
This series began after spending many hours sitting and observing the gallery space. When I was inside the empty gallery space, I began to notice these off moments of the space. They stuck out to me because there was nothing drawing my attention elsewhere. These moments contradicted the perceptions and labels of a finally polished, white-walled gallery space. I found myself drawn to these deformities and wanted to highlight there peculiarities because they felt so at odds with the galleries’ function to celebrate art. By exaggerating the idiosyncrasies of the space, the invading organisms create a sense of uncanniness, making the familiar strange.
Each swarm of creatures envelopes 5 inconsistencies of the space, camouflaging themselves into and calling attention to the imperfections of the space: a useful but unattractive group of electrical boxes, a large pillar that obstructs the viewer’s gaze, an outlet stranded alone in a corner, a crack that expands ominously to the ceiling, and an abandoned cluster of hidden outlets. By centralizing the off moments with the blacksmithed forms, I’m bringing these deformities to the level of a decorative object. What started as a project to highlight imperfections, became a mutually enhancing relationship between my work and the environment.
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Mid-Program Review:
"Uncanny Thoughts" Step into my space of uncanny thoughts. Feel anxious and afraid of these unknown creatures. Be fearful of what might be behind the door and question these entities' existence in a child’s room. Notice each organism’s place in the environment and acknowledge your lack of control. Each body enters the space suddenly, interacting with the functional and non-functional elements of the space. Look at this work from a parent’s perspective and feel uncomfortable or uneasy in this place. These tentacle-like entities are set in a child’s room, occupying, interrupting, and invading this ephemeral area. I choose a children's room to highlight the potential uncanny thought's parents have in a space of growth. A child’s space carries specific predetermined connotations for a parent; a desire to protect, defend, and mentor. Putting these inherent harmful and unknown objects in a child’s space enhance this need to defend or control this environment. Yet, the audience has no control over this space. This lack of dominion has an inverse relationship to my medium specific process, a desire for complete control. These tentacle forms come from a desire to have complete and udder authority over medium, my metaphor for control. Using steel, I’m able to form, texture and manipulate this rigid material to create something more sustainable and durable. By forcing this material to change shape, I can create something that challenges the potential of these structures. It is an expression of power and sheer force of will. Bending, stretching, and moving such a rigorous material, in this way, gives me satisfaction and domination over my medium. |
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
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Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
Uncanny Thoughts, Mild Steel, Wallpaper, Fake Wood Floor, Plywood sheet, 7’x4’x4’, 2022
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