ARTIST’S STATEMENT
ON WORK
ON WORK
The mixed-media prints in this exhibit at Phillips Academy are from a series in which I unpack my experiences of clearing out my uncle’s house after he passed away.
Over two years time, I helped my father empty this same home where he grew up as a child in the 1930’s. His family resided in the four-apartment house for over a century and they amassed many treasures.
Depression-era saving practices filled crannies and corners and I harvested them—in closets, the attic, under beds and in the basement. The home pulsed with material tokens. Alters for a cousin’s young death, signifiers of an aunt’s Alzheimer’s, and my uncle’s inventions, waited besides boxes of Wright’s rickrack and purple pompoms.
I paused—along the collar of a dress my uncle pinned a wrinkled note to remind his wife to “wear the long slip with this one.” In the attic I wondered why the Singer was set up, needle and thread through broadcloth still. History emerged from closets and beneath tired peeled wallpaper.
These things are charged.
Disentangling findings and feelings in the prints, I compiled text and images from letters, photographs and books I unearthed while cleaning house. Digging more deeply, I now know these relatives more intimately after touching their belongings—their lives. In this series, I breathe new life into the potentially discarded.
(All art work is property of the artist and may not be reproduced without her consent. Thank you.)
Over two years time, I helped my father empty this same home where he grew up as a child in the 1930’s. His family resided in the four-apartment house for over a century and they amassed many treasures.
Depression-era saving practices filled crannies and corners and I harvested them—in closets, the attic, under beds and in the basement. The home pulsed with material tokens. Alters for a cousin’s young death, signifiers of an aunt’s Alzheimer’s, and my uncle’s inventions, waited besides boxes of Wright’s rickrack and purple pompoms.
I paused—along the collar of a dress my uncle pinned a wrinkled note to remind his wife to “wear the long slip with this one.” In the attic I wondered why the Singer was set up, needle and thread through broadcloth still. History emerged from closets and beneath tired peeled wallpaper.These things are charged.
Disentangling findings and feelings in the prints, I compiled text and images from letters, photographs and books I unearthed while cleaning house. Digging more deeply, I now know these relatives more intimately after touching their belongings—their lives. In this series, I breathe new life into the potentially discarded.(All art work is property of the artist and may not be reproduced without her consent. Thank you.)
1 comment:
I think i've seen these at the Essex Art Center, but I want to get to the Gelb to see again. Dad, too. I liked the text about cleaning out the W.Warren house. Nice writing! I think Perry Plouff would like to see this. I'll either forward to him or give you his e-mail. xxoo mom
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