Foam and Plaster

Shifting Spiral
Foam, Plaster, Wood, Spray paint
17in x 17in x 17in

            

                                         

                                         

                                         

Artist Statement:  

 

The intention for this sculpture was to develop an understanding of the materials, which were foam and plaster and their relationship to each other. Through this process, I gained knowledge of how the plaster reacts to the foam’s surface as well as how the foam is easy to manipulate. I carved out abstract shapes in the foam and then went deeper in detail by carving indents into those pieces. After that, I put two coats of plaster on the foam and sanded that down. When cutting out the foam into abstract shapes, I was inspired by how the foam was taking the blade. In some areas it was smooth to the touch, while others were rigid and bumpy. I was intrigued by this texture and decided to create a work that placed emphasis on this form. Most of the sculpture is white to direct attention to the texture of the surface and the movement of the individual pieces, as well as to stay true to the color of the plaster. I chose to paint a few pieces red, this color symbolizes urgency, and white symbolizes calmness. Creating contrast not only visually but as well as symbolically. The gloss shine shown on the surface of the sculpture illustrates the idea that the purpose of it is to display and preserve what can be created with these materials. The pieces that are on the side that are holding up the sculpture can be adjusted for it to be moved in various positions.  

 

Inspiration: 

Michal Fargo

https://designformankind.com/2013/04/a-vessel-to-mold/

Hanne Friis
http://www.hannefriis.com/html/Portal.html

Arlene Shechet 
https://www.pacegallery.com/exhibitions/arlene-shechet-together/

A Natural History of the Senses Relief Sculpture

A Button Before
wood, gloss varnish, vintage buttons
24in x 13in x 2 ½in 

Artist Statement:  

I respond to the nostalgia associated with this object, the button. The antique buttons are from the past, still on the cardboard to be sold, they never made it to the dressmakers. I think of people touching these small objects to fasten their clothes and mothers buttoning up a child's jacket. Formally, I am attracted to the individual design of buttons. The colors, textures and motifs. I find these particular buttons alluring due to the pearl like quality.

Inspiration:

 Lisa Kokin

http://www.lisakokin.com/buttonworks-one.html

Amalia A. Amaki
https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/souleo-visual-artists-pushing-buttons-ways-one/

Beau Mccall
https://beaumccall.com/

 

 

Memento

Untitled 
wood, fabric, gloss varnish 

2 ½" x 2 ½" x 2 ½"

Artist Statement: 

This sculpture is from a personal memory that I experienced when looking for my mother’s belongings. When I was five, my mother passed away and throughout my childhood I did not have many of her things. In the summer before my junior year of high school, I went into the attic to find some of my mother’s belongings. While I was up there, my foot went through the ceiling below. I chose to represent this memory by creating a box out of wood to be representative of a cardboard box I found her belongings in. I made handmade roses out of the fabric of an old shirt of hers. I chose roses because roses were one of her favorite flowers and that is the middle name, she gave me. I put the roses around a hole that I made in the bottom of the box which symbolizes that while something of hers is in the box that she herself is not present. The hole also connects to the memory because of the fall through the attic floor. I coated the outside of the box with a gloss varnish to resemble the shiny sheets of plastic that were in the photo albums in the box I found. 

Inspiration:

Clarina Bezzola 
https://clarinabezzola.com/

Meret Oppenheim
Website

Marcel Duchamp
https://www.toutfait.com/unmaking_the_museum/Paris%20Air.html