ARTIST STATEMENT
I make sculptures that explore themes of excess, abundance, and proximity. My work is equally about the process of reclaiming, as much as it is about the process of making. I have a desire to make something complex and intentional out of something that was discarded or unwanted; playing on the irony that the new composition itself will eventually follow the same trajectory.
In my current work, I collect waste such as plastics, coffee sacks, and milk cartons from my day job working at a coffee shop. I source natural materials seasonally from my parents and friend’s yards. I find myself both curious and upset about these “impossible” tasks of gathering; a certain obsessiveness both in pulling all the weeds from a ditch and trying to save all I can from the trash bin in a steady shift at work.
In my nature based pieces, I draw inspiration from artists Andy Goldsworthy and Spencer Byles who focus on raw materials, but find myself attempting to merge the organic materials with synthetic ones. Nature is where I find my personal place of quiet and mediation. However, the amount of time spent in the woods or a forested park, for myself, is rare. Instead, I get caught up in the day's obligations and balance of relationships. It is through the process of combining these two contrasting materials that I explore ideas of equilibrium and unbalance within my sculptural work.
Beginning in my undergraduate studies, I developed an interest in installations after seeing one of Nick Cave’s exhibitions. With his work in mind, I found some leftover yarn and wrapped it around discarded aluminum wire.The work quickly expanded, eventually filling up the space of a small room. Fascinated by the size I continued to work in this range. I made another piece around the same breadth, composed of unwanted blankets, clothes, and handbags, that I cut and braided together. For my thesis exhibition I wanted to make a change from using solely fibers. I broke apart a variety of thrifted wooden chairs, and adhered them to three, eight foot tall pine frames.The pieces had to be moved to my parent’s backyard after the pandemic canceled classes. To finish the three pillars, I used firewood to fill in the gaps, creating a contrast between the manufactured and the organic materials. I enjoyed seeing how the weather and elements affected the pieces. During the making of these three sculptural installations I realized my interest in recycled assemblages, decomposition, and large scale work.
Through the lens of environmental damage and deterioration I will further investigate the question of how individuals juggle the numerous roles we play in society. What happens when we get too caught up in one role i.e. student, child, sibling, activist, employee, partner, etc, and lose balance in the others? What occurs when mental illnesses intrude our relationships? What coping mechanisms––healthy or otherwise––do we find ourselves trying to use, for momentary or prolonged escapes? I’m very interested in collaborating with scientists, architects, performers, and dance artists. In sum, I want to create work to better engage with the world at large.