Solo Exhibition Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art 2009
RE:cycled is a group of works made from materials and objects found, purchased 2nd hand, recycled and collected along the Spokane river. In my daily walks on the river I often stop to collect interesting and unusual forms that make their way to my community via the moving waters. The unusual and the mundane, forgotten objects found at 2nd hand shops or yard sales bring me to a place of satisfaction in finding them a home in my studio. Recycled materials often found on the street, in a trash pile or even on e-bay are given a second chance at life in a new context.
Most of the forms evoke a memory of things I have seen or known before in art school lectures or museum visits. I find inspiration in a rusted nail or a plank of wood. I spend much time sitting with these objects to determine how they want to be reinvented. I listen to the story of their past to help identify the story of their future. I find some of the objects demand to be taken seriously while others just want to be laughed at. I do my best to oblige their wishes'.
FOA Wall Drawing; found objects hardware. 103" x 101" x 8" 2009 NFS,
This material has been collected from the Spokane River, downtown and in the state parks, snow-banks all over town, potholes, curbs and streets of Spokane County, my office, HWY 97 between Bend Oregon & Weed California and, a subdivision in Loomis California.
Mechanism for the promotion of Child Labor; found welded steel parts, chemical patina, new handlebar grips, wild dry grass. 46" x 48" x 59" 2009 private collection, Spokane WA
Glitter Jesus & His Magic Pony; acquired objects, found object. 38" x 26" x 12" 2009 private collection.
Glitter Jesus was purchased at a fundraiser to help cover the expense of an EWU student's fall tuition & fees, also where I found His Magic Pony. The bench was a street find in Peaceful Valley. They found each other in minutes in my studio.
Portrait of the Artist; hardware, acquired object. 6" x 14" x 3" 2009 collection of the artist.
Fall From Grace; found object, slip cast porcelain, mason stains, clear coat.
48" x 38" x 38" 2009 NFS.
...sonata for explanatory hierarchies...; acquired object, hardware, plaster casts, fibers.
70" x 58" x 11" 2009 collection of Dan Wenger, Portland, OR
...sonata for midnight swims and dog walking...; found objects, hardware.
Dimensions Variable, 2008. available in store
This piece came to fruition summer 2008 after finding/acquiring the keys from an old upright piano abandoned in Spokane Washington near the river, where I walk my dog.
The piano keys from Spokane were placed in an arc shape on the floor protecting the keys mounted on the wall, which were harvested from a baby grand piano that fell through two stories of a southern antebellum mansion in the post Katrina floodwaters. This mansion, also known as the 'country club' in the By-Water neighborhood of New Orleans was an occasional neighborhood social club open for cocktails and swimming that I frequented on late southern nights before it was destroyed.
Self Portrait with Fangs, altered found objects, beeswax, artists' hair 2008.
Consumer Correspondence; acquired & borrowed objects, shredded recycled paper products that have been received through my household mailbox since Feb 1st 2009- updated weekly (Fridays at 2 PM through 4/28). Silicone. Dimensions VariableNFS 2009
This piece involves borrowed mailboxes, and all the paper products that I normally recycle weekly curbside that entered my home via my USPS letter carrier, Ric since February 1st 2009.
I updated the paper product every Friday at 2 PM through the duration of the exhibit. All papar was recycled at the close of the exhibition.
Interactive Riverbank Experiment; sand, rocks, participants. Dimensions Variable. 2009 NFS
For several weeks, volunteers and I walked the banks of the Spokane River and moved and stacked rocks, then collected them and brought them back to my home to await their arrival in the gallery. Visitors were asked to interact with the river rocks here.
If you have never walked the undeveloped trails of the Spokane River, please do so and interact with rocks you encounter there. Willingly participate in appreciation of the splendor of your community, as it is, undeveloped.
No rocks were harmed in this experiment and all were be returned to their place of origin when the experiment was complete.
*since this piece was conceived encroaching developments threaten the wild places that cut through the center of the city of Spokane. Paved trails and condos allow more access but threaten the wild experiences I prefer.
***special thanks to the crew of Gabriel Brown, Chrystal Wakeham, Cori McWilliams, Sunshine Poliquin & Turq the wonder dog.