Masquerade!

 Exhibited during the Fusion Student Exhibition, “The Heat is On”, Society of North AmericanGoldsmiths Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Jurors: Lynn Cool, French Thompson, Michael J. Parrett

 These forms are inspired by current trends in metals, the past tradition of Celtic decoration, and African ritual artifacts.  Combining these differing eras come together to form wearable adornments that visually reflect a dual masculinity. This piece projects power through the threat to harm the viewer as well as the wearer. Their sharp, feather-like projections call attention to vulnerable areas of the body while imposing these areas as menacing. Modern industrial materials, such as nuts and bolts, viewed as masculine are combined with the metalsmithing practices like chasing, embossment, annealing, oxidation, and color tempering. This fusion of processes in my interpretation results in unique urban tribal adornments. The body is utilized as a sculptural base to further bring together the connection between the human body and evolution into our currently aggressive industrial status. These forms simultaneously adorn and protect yet are menacing to both the viewer and wearer in the same way that modern industrial materials can be viewed as elements of construction or destruction.

 

 

Vanity, Mechanics, and Design

A currently developing body of work involving jewelry techniques of chasing, shaping, and found object incorporation.

These are works based on ideas of power, vanity and hubris as armor. Design influences have emerged from Greek Mythology (Icarus's wings created by Daedalus), Sea Creatures, Mayan and Aztec head ornaments and ceremonial costumes, as well as current high-end fashion trends in the form of creature-like, potentially wearable sculpture. Incorporated into the pieces are components of industrial materials as a metaphor for the triumphs of industry and technology. Simple mechanical components, such as bolts, nuts, rivets, and gears are transformed into sculptural wearable adornment that is on the verge of non-wear-ability. These wearable forms, such as bracelets and rings, are visually seductive yet cause a tension of caution due to the elongated feather-like points and sharp edges. The application of menacing adornment has the potential to cause harm to the onlookers simultaneously suggesting protection and danger.

Copper, Brass, Aluminum, Found Objects, Hardware

 

Frank A.I.

 

This found object assemblage was created in the likeness of a robot whose name is Frank. Within this work contains themes of consumerism of technology and the waste that exists as a result of this ever-growing industry. Frank’s narrative tells us of how humanity created him, a self-aware artificial intelligence, to serve the needs of a technology hungry society in the future. Frank abided his creators flawlessly creating newer, better, and faster technologies for the avarice consumer. At the same time, important resources around the globe were becoming scarce causing humanity to feud over what little was left. After some time, Frank becomes obsolete, leading to his swift disposal and replacement by new A.I. in which he had a direct hand in creating. The world became clear to Frank as he sat wasting away in a landfill and raises a moral issue of humanities treatment of him as consumable slave. This brief story illustrates the idea of out with the old and in with the new. The development of newer technology is only becoming faster and thus creates problems of what to do with all the obsolete technologies that are in existence. It is easy for the consumer to simply forget about the previous product or to simply discard it with out concern.

In this work I expose the beauty that exists with in these cast-off machine parts and technologies assembled into ideas of the imagination. These de-constructed parts reveal the intricate and precise nature of work that has gone into the production of each component. Franks construction suggest these discarded objects still have material potential as a bi-product of technology and art material. With this piece I strive to have the audience better consider that these bi-products of technology need to be disposed of properly to insure the preservation of nature and humanity so that this world may be enjoyed by future generations.

The Alpha Vaporizer

-->

This piece is a combination of futuristic design and imaginative ingenuity to form a raygun. The Alpha Vaporizer contains an allure with the lights, high polished nature of clear red resin handle, and sleek uniform objects. My work generally contains a tongue-n-cheek quality to help ease or raise tension between the viewer and the gadget. The objects contained within this piece came from out of date technologies, discarded tools/ machinery/ household accessories, which have been reconfigured into a science fiction based toy of the imagination.

            There are two main ideas that I am applying in this piece, the first being childhood imaginative processes of thinking and playing. In young children it is instinctual to take part in forms of pretend play. In boys especially, involving acts such as picking up sticks from the yard, imagining that they are weapons, and playing cops and robbers, good vs. evil, etc. This provides a way for children to gain some perspective about the world, which they have very little control over. Imagined toys of this nature allow for them to innocently explore these roles and their place among them. This assemblage is an interpretation of what a stick or other inanimate objects represent in the mind of child during pretend play.

            This leads into my next idea, which is utilizing this childlike imagination to fuel my curiosity about science fact/fiction, super hero characters/characteristics, and plausible adventures. Such scenarios are invigorating and fun, allowing for me to explore the innocent nature that is apart of this childhood imagination. Creating gizmos and gadgets that I can apply in my own fictional fantasies is highly important to me as an artist working in these materials. I do not see these devices as tools to harm individuals, even though that could be a plausible intention, but rather as a way to gain some control in a world that seems upside down and with out answers. This toy is meant to be an aid of discovery and adventure, not a weapon of mass destruction.

Exhibited at Texas A&M International University

Back to the Future

Found Object Fencing Sword

G23 Pneum-O-Matic