It was suggested to me by several peers that I start to combine my collages with my sculpture. I started on this piece by making tons and tons of paper using spray paint to leave patterns and marks. I cut diamonds out and started layering them on to the form. I am commemorating living in a house with two wonderful women, where we conversed around a bonfire in the summer. More updates to come soon!
Found table cloth, yellow lace fabric, red and white
embroidery thread, metal embroidery hoops and house paint.
Not sure on the title yet. When I first moved to Penn State I had flashbacks of playing sports in elementary and middle school. Walking by so many fraternities and watching the members toss the football to each other reminded me of my interactions with boys as a child. At this age I could keep up with and compete with boys, giving me a way to gain respect as an equal. As I grew older it became more difficult for me to compete because I was physically limited by my size. I still play games with my male friends, but none with large amounts of physical contact. I've lost this connection with men through sports.
To make this work I bought a found table cloth from ebay. After the yellow lace circle was attached to either side, I cut a hole and attached metal embroidery hoops. The embroidery hoops sit in the center, suspended by red and white thread. I hung this on a curtain rod and added long white tassels as a fringe. The diamond painted on the floor mimics a baseball diamond or some strange gym floor. The balls resemble red rubber dodge balls. The shadows on the wall and floor were unanticipated but greatly welcomed.
"Enjoy the little things. For one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
Installation
materials:
Ivory Soap, sponges, dry soap, paper towels,
found table cloth, place mat, metal platter, table
and china dish
The title of the work comes from a quote that was placed on the wrapping of one of many Ivory soap bars used in the work, the quote is by Robert Brault. I started this piece by buying the silver platter at a thrift store. Originally I had planned on placing the lemon bar sponge cakes around the silver platter, making them resemble tiles. After I finished making the sponge cakes I liked the way they looked on the platter. I also liked the idea of the fancy silver platter serving the object that cleans it. I expanded on that idea by carving chocolates out of ivory soap and placing them in the pink dishes. The china dish on the floor is filled with water, inviting the observer to kneel. After getting the work into the space, I decided to paint the floor pink and used paper towels for wall paper. The printed wall paper was made by placing a lace place mat over the towels and spray painting over it with pink. The rug beneath the table is made from soap shavings. The soap and the way it is treated causes the room to be overpowered with smell. The smell is nice at first, but can be sickening if too much time is spent in the space.
I found a scrap piece of plywood in the wood shop scrap box. I liked the door shape that it left and I imagined a tunnel to another place. I made this for one of my best friends, Sarah. There was a monumental tragedy in her life and I wasn't physically there to reassure her that she was loved. For the week that I had to wait to see her, I made this little collage as a coping mechanism but also because I wanted her to know that I was thinking about her. I was inspired by a song by The Drums, "Down by the water," the lyrics expressed my feelings, almost exactly. Songs rarely do that for me.
DOWN BY THE WATER
(selected lyrics)
You've gotta believe me when I say
When I say the word "forever"
And whatever comes your way
We'll still be here together
I know it's hard, I know it's hard
But I understand you, just take my hand
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby, I'll carry you all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby, I'll carry you all the way home
First work created while at Penn State. The eggs are resin coated and then gorilla glued together inside the embroidery hoop. The inner hoop is wrapped in white string. The two stand far apart from one another with yards of string connecting them.
I've been in my new studio at Penn State for about a week now and have gotten the time and space that I needed to start sewing pantyhose to rope. I used untreated rope that is commonly used for household things, such as tying up branches. I came to school with many pairs of pantyhose, but there weren't enough to make as many strands that I felt necessary. I ended up buying packs at Wal-Mart because there are only a few thrift stores here. I'm hanging these 5 strands in a room with a loop hook, tying it with a fisherman's knot. In the front of the room I'm placing a 1940's fan in front of the hanging strands...making them dance.
