Christmas Tree as Monument

Defining monument as a form of memorial erected to remember something worthy of notation, I have been considering and toying with the potential for the Christmas tree to act as a medium to point to the impermanent monument. The tree, when real versus artificial, is a time-sensitive object that decays quickly in comparison to other objects prone to dilapidation. The season in which the tree is erected as a monument to Christ is also brief in the scope of the entirety of the year. The potential the artificial tree holds to show dilapidation is explosive. The use of light and reflective ornament in embellishing the tree show the ephemeral: the reflections in the objects are changing constantly as the outer surroundings constantly change. Many ornaments on trees are uniquely personal- small monuments to events such as baby's first Christmas and ornaments dedicated to the deceased. The monument of the tree is also surround by ritual and correlating sound. Both ritual and sound are commonly associated with memorial and monument.

Text Works versus Monument

A great difference exist between two bodies of work I have been creating this past year.

For my text works, I have struggled to discuss them in context of visual art because they are more in the trajectory of prose, poetry, and the liberal arts. The use of visual elements are not to create discussion on text as art but rather to emphasize the meaning of the prose and poetry.

The monument and object works function more in the space of sculpture and installation art. Their concern of what is precious links them to my text works. However, the monument and object works also address the issues of time and space, the inseparable two. These works have a physical presence that questions and confronts while the text works use the space of the brain to confront and question the viewer.

Pictured is a text work titled Reflection. This prose resulted from reflecting while staring at mausoleums reflections in the body of water adjacent to Wade Chapel in Lake View Cemetery. Lake View Cemetery is a Victorian cemetery located in Cleveland, Ohio. It is the home of the Garfield Monument and Rockefeller monument.

Destruction/ Construction

Through constant exposure to construction and destruction in University Circle, this impermanence of architectures and city scape are inspiration to my work. Seeing buildings erected and old buildings demolished illustrates the temporal nature of existence. The University Circle district and the Euclid Corridor are going through a multitude of changes and additions. Inevitably, being part of this transforming area results in inspiration and influence on my artistic practice.

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.