Skins and Vessels
‘Double Vessel No.9’ 2023
Skins and Vessels
The Chinese Wu Xing system lists wood, fire, earth, metal and water as the five elements. This explains the nature and complexity of all matter in terms of simpler substances. My work touches on all the elements as I seek to translate, disclose, disseminate and observe the current social construct.
I utilize the unexpected in ways to stimulate experimentation, allowing new and multiple meanings. I’m a fan of Joseph Beuys and duplicate his care in selecting raw materials, primarily from the natural world. Through these salvaged and upcycled materials, I developed unique techniques over time. For example: In a search to represent skin, I concocted a bath to stain silk organza and a variety of papers. It includes odd rusted objects and tea combined with salt and an encaustic process. The passage of time… and accumulating objects over time are manipulated, exposing the seen and not seen.
At age fifteen, secrets were my constant companions when family conditions placed me and my four siblings in a tough and unsafe housing project in the east side of Cleveland. My time in the projects influenced thoughts about the less fortunate and the secrets we hide. Then as now layers and hidden meanings in layers have influenced my work. Secrets hide below the surface and inside vessels. Skin is the exterior layer of humanity, a fragile boundary between what exists to the outside and what hides away.
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Modeling paste and oil on canvas, paper, rust and tea stain on paper, rice paper, silk organza, encaustic,
embroidery thread, thread and string.
Modeling paste, dry pigment , paper, rust and tea stain on paper, silk organza,
encaustic embroidery thread and string, on canvas, graphite on modeling paste on panel.
Modeling paste and oil paint on canvas, paper, rust and tea stain on paper and silk organza, encaustic,
graphite on modeling paste on panel, embroidery thread and string.
Modeling paste, oil paint, paper, rust and tea stain on paper, silk organza,
encaustic embroidery thread and string, on canvas, graphite on modeling paste on panel.
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, cheesecloth, encaustic
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel. 48 x 48 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, encaustic
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, silk organza, embroidery thread, color pencil, graphite, encaustic
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, silk organza, embroidery thread, encaustic
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, color pencil, encaustic
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, cheesecloth, encaustic, and color pencil
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, plexiglass, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, cheesecloth, encaustic, and color pencil
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, plexiglass, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, cheesecloth, encaustic, and color pencil
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, plexiglass, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Rust, tea, embroidery thread, cheesecloth, encaustic, and color pencil
on paper on modeling paste on wood panel, rusted steel, plexiglass, lag screws. 30 x 30 x 2 inches
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, cotton organza, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel, plexiglass
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, cotton organza, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel, plexiglass
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, cheesecloth, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, silk organza, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Encaustic, rust, tea, string, thread, silk organza, on paper, modeling paste, rusted steel
Rusted steel frame, modeling paste on panel in shadow box frame, paper, rust, tea, string, thread, rice paper, cheesecloth, yarn
Rusted steel frame, modeling paste on panel in shadow box frame, paper, rust, tea, string, thread cotton organza, yarn, rice paper
Rusted steel frame, modeling paste on panel in shadow box frame, paper, rust, tea, string, thread, silk organza, cheesecloth, yarn
Cotton organza, encaustic, rust, tea, thread, yarn, paper, dry pigment, charcoal, graphite, color pencil, modeling paste on canvas on panel
Cotton organza, encaustic, rust, tea, thread, yarn, paper, dry pigment, charcoal, graphite, color pencil, modeling paste on canvas on panel
Cotton organza, encaustic, rust, tea, thread, yarn, paper, dry pigment, charcoal, graphite, color pencil, modeling paste on canvas on panel
Encasutic, rust, tea, and thread on paper, rusted steel frame
Encasutic, rust, tea, and thread on paper, rusted steel frame
Encasutic, rust, tea, and thread on paper, rusted steel frame
Encasutic, rust, tea, and thread on paper, rusted steel frame
Rust, tea and encaustic on paper
Rust, tea on paper, rusted steel frame
Rust, tea, string, on paper, rusted steel frame
Rust, tea, string, on paper, rusted steel frame
Encasutic, rust, tea, and thread on paper, rusted steel frame
Rust, tea, string, on paper, rusted steel frame
rust, tea, and encaustic on paper and on canvas stitched into wood frame.
Encaustic, hair, rust, tea, thread, on paper on canvas stitched into wood
Rusted steel frame, Rust, tea, string, thread, and encaustic on paper
Rusted steel frame, Rust, tea and color pencil string, thread, and encaustic on paper
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