Frame of Mind
I found your Damn Lost Shaker of Salt
A Pint for a Gallon
This series of wall-hanging ceramic sculptures explores perspective as both a conceptual point of view and a visual system for describing spatial depth and distance. Each piece is framed by a flotation ring sculpted to appear as though it recedes farther into space than it actually does, creating subtle perceptual distortions and visual tension. Two of the rings are brought to life through realistically sculpted bird heads and feet, adding to the sense of the uncanny and overwhelmed.
Developed during the 2020 pandemic, the works examine several existential facets of contemporary American life, including stages of life, environmental legacy, and the prevalence of both physical and emotional pollution. Combining narratives that resonate with both mature and younger audiences, the sculptures use humor, distortion, and anthropomorphic forms to navigate themes of anxiety, vulnerability, and ecological instability.
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
Research and Inspiration
Historic visual and narrative references
“The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night”
Nursery rhymes, biblical narratives, elements of polluted lake shores and contemporary imagery describe an overwhelmed scene. Referencing Judith and Holofernes, and The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, this wall piece alludes notions of predator and prey, revenge, the uncanny, and outrage at the state of media communication, society, and environment.
Visual References I’ve observed from my local environment
My experiences fishing have taken me to some of the most beautiful places while also exposing me to some of the most troubling watershed issues. The detritus depicted in this piece was inspired by what I encountered while fishing along the Cleveland waterfront, standing shoulder to shoulder with dozens of other anglers casting for walleye at night. Piled along the breakwalls were thousands of dead fish mixed with recognizable and unrecognizable fragments of plastic, foam, and wood, forming a dense stew of debris gathered along the shoreline’s surface.
Judith And Holofernes by Artemesia Gentileschi
Process and visual/structural problem solving
I used drawing to map out the composition and built directly on top of the plan
Building a silhouette that could be understood as either a reflection or a shadow, I added internal clay supports that allowed me to attach many small elements at varying depths. This created a layered effect that made the detritus appear more suspended within space.
