Over the last few years I have been focused on broadening my knowledge and capabilities in everything that is steel. This exploration and dedication to a single medium manifested itself into the construction of pedestal-sized sculptures of insects during an artist residency with the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2017.
My first pieces were used as a way for me to represent specific species of insects to the public that simply used steel as a means to an end. After finishing the SMM-Pine Needles residency I continued to follow my curiosities with insects to the Penland School of Craft. During this class I learned new steel fabrication techniques, including welding, which I was able to immediately incorporate into the insect pieces and suddenly the sculptures began to take on lives of their own. During this time at Penland I began to look at and investigate the interaction between viewers and insects, a subject matter that is not normally seen or witnessed on such a public stage but generally ignored by the average person because it is merely part of everyone’s everyday life.
Since that class I have been working around the idea that location and environmental interaction with each sculpture and how the viewer internally digests this interaction is what gives life to each insect. I have also realized not only are the intentions of each piece important but that the construction is equally important. The use of steel lends itself wonderfully to outdoor sculpture and has the ability to maintain its form and weather well over time.
My first pieces were used as a way for me to represent specific species of insects to the public that simply used steel as a means to an end. After finishing the SMM-Pine Needles residency I continued to follow my curiosities with insects to the Penland School of Craft. During this class I learned new steel fabrication techniques, including welding, which I was able to immediately incorporate into the insect pieces and suddenly the sculptures began to take on lives of their own. During this time at Penland I began to look at and investigate the interaction between viewers and insects, a subject matter that is not normally seen or witnessed on such a public stage but generally ignored by the average person because it is merely part of everyone’s everyday life.
Since that class I have been working around the idea that location and environmental interaction with each sculpture and how the viewer internally digests this interaction is what gives life to each insect. I have also realized not only are the intentions of each piece important but that the construction is equally important. The use of steel lends itself wonderfully to outdoor sculpture and has the ability to maintain its form and weather well over time.