Untitled; acrylic paint, Plasti Dip, steel and vertebrae on 10"x10" wood panel
Participated in my final Open Studios here at CSU, Chico. My display included 3 new pieces made this year: Preservation, 2016 Sugar glass, corn starch, brush, push broom and open windows 6' X 11' Caparisoned Elephant Hauling Log, 2016 Glass, steel, plastic and wood 4" X 18" X 5" Rhino Light, 2016 Bronze and LED lights 7" X 15" X 5" Mus musculus, Strain BALB/c is a piece I've been working on for the show Incubator currently taking place in the CSU, Chico B-SO Space gallery.It is composed of plastic casts of mice with nylon twine tails on a plate of glass with every major strain of laboratory mice written on it in dry erase marker. Underneath the glass is an illustrated gene sequence of chromosome 1 for Mus musculus, also written in dry erase marker. Over the course of the show I'm replacing the plastic, "natural" looking mice with glass castings of genetically altered mice.
An excerpt from the show's statement: This is Incubator, a show [that allows students] to blend their various media practices with that of their peers through parasitic relationships. Each artist has created a “host” work of art for installation. Over the duration of the exhibition the artists will then act as “parasites,” using the existing base-systems of other hosts as an exploration of the artist’s material and conceptual approach. Friction will be created between artists throughout the show to generate a new system of artworks that inform each other in new ways and create a profusion of unforeseen discussions. I wanted my piece to use the theme of parasites while still addressing topics of relations between man and nature. In brainstorming what to make for the show I kept asking myself questions such as:
Eventually I came to realize that laboratory animals are the perfect example of humans acting as parasites on nature. We've bred specific strains of animals whose entire existence is based on man's intended use. Laboratory-bred mice, the most commonly used scientific research mammal, are subject to the full force of our parasitic potential. However, it is important that as I point out this relationship I also express my understanding of the benefits of animal testing research. It can be concluded that almost every medical achievement in the 20th century relied on the use of animals in some way. Also to be considered is that, despite our growing ability to use sophisticated computers to model microscopic interactions between organisms and various stimuli, we can't model everything that happens between molecules, cells, tissues, organs, the organisms, and their environment. I've been fortunate enough to talk with a few individuals that have worked with lab animals and they assured me that people are hired, usually veterinarians, who care for the animals and handle them gently. Comfort while held in the lab is of high importance to them. After animals have finished undergoing testing they search for families willing to adopt them. My main criticism is with the regulations surrounding animal testing. The Animal Welfare Act does not require that rats or mice receive pain relief, nor does it necessitate the counting of bodies. This means that anytime a rat or mouse is tested on, even when the test has no interest in the level of pain response, no attempt to dull pain will likely be used for cost savings. Keeping records of how many lab mice or rats gone through for testing is also possibly neglected to save time and filing space. It is left up to the individuals doing the tests to decide if these things are worth doing despite not being necessary. As with my other sculptures, I'm trying to convey balance in my presentation of the issue with respect to differing views of morality. I personally lean toward the termination of most methods of animal testing, yet I know if humans are to continue reaching for the stars this is overall a necessary affair. Regardless of the ethics, we are parasites. Here's a few more shots. After a few tests with an assortment of magnet types, the window toys are complete. Each toy consists of 4 rectangular magnets wrapped in thin fabric and epoxied to metal plates. Handles are welded to the plates on the exterior of the display while eyelets are welded to those of the interior. An elastic cable runs from one toy up to the ceiling and down to the ground with a toy on the tip; the other toy has strands of ribbon hanging against the window's interior. Moving the handles across the glass raises and lowers the toys. Mizuki has taken to them well.
I've added some basic decor to make the gallery look playful: streamers hanging from the ceiling, boxes stacked and scattered, fake grass, a rug, and a couple exercise balls. The floor in the space has a hard, unsmooth surface, so I'm trying to gather materials to completely cover it. I'm also developing a system of magnet operated toys that can be used by people viewing through the window outside.
Began my window installation in the Project: SPACE downtown. Student's in our sculpture class are given a week to develop a 24/7 window gallery into an exhibit. I'll be turning the space into an entertainment enclosure for my pet cat, Mizuki. Let's see what I can do in a week!
|
Work In Progress
Blog of my art as it is being made. Archives
April 2016
Categories |