COLLECTING WOMEN

Collecting Women

2018

Various scorched woods and resin

90H x 53W x 8D”

Collection of The Center for Art in Wood

Often in my life I use ritual to officially rid my heart or mind from intangible toxicity. In these moments, an object I borrow or create becomes my own solid, recognizable character representing the idea or force that needs to be discarded. A figurine, an iPod, a box holding something that once felt sacred: these become symbols of discomfort, as well as tools for releasing negative energy and creating transformation. After the ceremony, these items become symbols of guidance, empowerment, and peace. Together they take on a new form and tell a story.

I am developing a more specific design language and exploring new ways to construct and present these sculptural symbolic forms. The answers lie in the material itself, revealing something through stress and manipulation, a reflection of the subtle and overt torture I witness in our world. The act of making/destroying is intrinsically linked to my own liberation and renewal.

Photos by Jack Mauch