Works in Progress

Recently, I have been experimenting with text and name in visual art. These tests are work that I plan on submitting for different call for artists. The text work is the future beyond my proposed BFA project. The name lingers even after our bodies and souls leave the world. Life is fleeting but name has permanence on grave stones and in friends and family. Below are a few shots of test pieces using text and name.

Progress on Clay "Petals"

These are some shots of the clay "petals" I've been working on as a component of my proposed BFA project. I say "petals" because they very loosely represent a flower petal. Their action, though, is that of the flower petal. The unfired clay breaks down in the rain. The existence of the petal is just as fleeting as that of a flower's petal.

Model Building and Sculpture Process

A necessary skill that I find extremely lacking at the CIA is the usage of thumbnail sketches and model building in preparation for paintings, drawings, and sculpture. For my BFA project, I have been spending a wealth of hours drawing architectural plans for the sculpture I will be building. Recently, I have moved onto the next stage of my process for this work. One rough model has been constructed and I am now preparing to produce two more models, both of which will be a bit cleaner and more exact than the first. All are built to an one seventh scale of the actual size of the proposed sculpture.

Below are images of the first model. It is constructed of a Styrofoam tape. It was a quick build and has helped me visualize the structure more clearly.

Site and Meaning

The site for my BFA installation is crucial to the meaning of the work and the effectiveness of the work. I have toyed with different spots around the exterior of the Gund Building of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Spending a good wealth of hours tracing the spaces around the front entrance of the CIA's Gund Building and the Sculpture Garden off of the Student Lounge, I didn't feel as though I had found the right place. The Gund Building is too directed in its audience and far from a neutral ground. The history of the building and the Cleveland Institute of Art are tied together deeply. Their ties limit the audience to CIA alum, students, and staff. My subject of passing time, transitory states, and precious moments would be in conflict with themes of education and academics inherit to the Gund Building.

I recently came across a small, run-down cemetery on East 118th in the University Circle District of Cleveland, Ohio. The East Cleveland Township Cemetery is a volunteer run cemetery that is working to restore the monuments and grandeur that have eroded with time and neglect. The visible signs of passing make this cemetery an ideal spot for my BFA. There is a common green area that offers the space I need for my outdoor structure. I am excited to learn more about the cemetery and hopefully aid in the restoration of the cemetery.