we are not just passive observers of our world but active participants the light
world but active participants the light
world but active participants the light space and materials that make up our
space and materials that make up our
space and materials that make up our environment influence our thoughts and
environment influence our thoughts and
environment influence our thoughts and emotions but the world is so big and we
emotions but the world is so big and we
emotions but the world is so big and we are so small our individual actions seem
are so small our individual actions seem
are so small our individual actions seem insignificant compared to the forces of
insignificant compared to the forces of
insignificant compared to the forces of time nature and society the untouchable
time nature and society the untouchable
time nature and society the untouchable beauty of a natural landscape gives the
beauty of a natural landscape gives the
beauty of a natural landscape gives the illusion of it being a powerful force of
illusion of it being a powerful force of
illusion of it being a powerful force of vengeful disregard and the crumbling
vengeful disregard and the crumbling
vengeful disregard and the crumbling ruins of a cultural wasteland give the
ruins of a cultural wasteland give the
ruins of a cultural wasteland give the illusion of the impermanence of our
illusion of the impermanence of our
illusion of the impermanence of our actions it looks like whatever we do
actions it looks like whatever we do
actions it looks like whatever we do today will be erased by geological
today will be erased by geological
today will be erased by geological history but all we have control of is
history but all we have control of is
history but all we have control of is what we do and our actions have profound
what we do and our actions have profound
what we do and our actions have profound impact on the well-being of our world
impact on the well-being of our world
impact on the well-being of our world I’m an artist inspired by my environment
I’m an artist inspired by my environment
I’m an artist inspired by my environment my real one not just the natural one
my real one not just the natural one
my real one not just the natural one I feel the effects my environment has on
I feel the effects my environment has on
I feel the effects my environment has on me and I see the effects humanity has on
me and I see the effects humanity has on
me and I see the effects humanity has on the environment how do we talk about the
the environment how do we talk about the
the environment how do we talk about the symbiotic relationship of codependent
symbiotic relationship of codependent
symbiotic relationship of codependent allies I’m compelled to make art that
allies I’m compelled to make art that
allies I’m compelled to make art that highlights the power and the poetry of
highlights the power and the poetry of
highlights the power and the poetry of the world we live in while revealing the
the world we live in while revealing the
the world we live in while revealing the consequence of our actions I grew up in
consequence of our actions I grew up in
consequence of our actions I grew up in New York City where the dominant life is
New York City where the dominant life is
New York City where the dominant life is human life the environment was
human life the environment was
human life the environment was rigorously regulated and never under
rigorously regulated and never under
rigorously regulated and never under control the great outdoors was full of
control the great outdoors was full of
control the great outdoors was full of danger adventure and a constant quest of
danger adventure and a constant quest of
danger adventure and a constant quest of freedom I began staging photographic
freedom I began staging photographic
freedom I began staging photographic tableaus of kids in the woods or in
tableaus of kids in the woods or in
tableaus of kids in the woods or in abandoned industrial areas away from the
abandoned industrial areas away from the
abandoned industrial areas away from the societal rules and expectations of
societal rules and expectations of
societal rules and expectations of grown-ups not being bad just being wild
grown-ups not being bad just being wild
grown-ups not being bad just being wild human animals set free in the elusive
human animals set free in the elusive
human animals set free in the elusive magic of after dark I wanted my viewer
magic of after dark I wanted my viewer
magic of after dark I wanted my viewer to be able to project themselves into
to be able to project themselves into
to be able to project themselves into these liberating environments so I
these liberating environments so I
these liberating environments so I presented my images as light boxes and
presented my images as light boxes and
presented my images as light boxes and set them at a small dark room to create
set them at a small dark room to create
set them at a small dark room to create a quiet breeding ground of fantasy
a quiet breeding ground of fantasy
a quiet breeding ground of fantasy and memory but a picture is still a
and memory but a picture is still a
and memory but a picture is still a picture and there remained an obvious
picture and there remained an obvious
picture and there remained an obvious distance between the subject of my
distance between the subject of my
distance between the subject of my photograph and the intended subject of
photograph and the intended subject of
photograph and the intended subject of my piece the viewer instead of having my
my piece the viewer instead of having my
my piece the viewer instead of having my viewer relates to somebody else being
viewer relates to somebody else being
viewer relates to somebody else being emotionally influenced by an evocative
emotionally influenced by an evocative
emotionally influenced by an evocative environment I wanted to create an
environment I wanted to create an
environment I wanted to create an environment in which to provide an
environment in which to provide an
environment in which to provide an experience in cities where the cacophony
experience in cities where the cacophony
experience in cities where the cacophony of culture prevails we become
of culture prevails we become
of culture prevails we become disconnected with the profound
disconnected with the profound
disconnected with the profound experience of being alone in a powerful
experience of being alone in a powerful
experience of being alone in a powerful environment what do we do when cultural
environment what do we do when cultural
environment what do we do when cultural norms prove impotent do we act on
norms prove impotent do we act on
norms prove impotent do we act on instinct or morals I built inside
instinct or morals I built inside
instinct or morals I built inside outhouse to capture the feeling of
outhouse to capture the feeling of
outhouse to capture the feeling of freedom and fear isolation and elation
freedom and fear isolation and elation
freedom and fear isolation and elation felt while standing alone on a country
felt while standing alone on a country
felt while standing alone on a country road at night the panoramic images of
road at night the panoramic images of
road at night the panoramic images of desolate firm scapes are printed on
desolate firm scapes are printed on
desolate firm scapes are printed on backlit transparencies and used to form
backlit transparencies and used to form
backlit transparencies and used to form the interior walls of a small farmhouse
the interior walls of a small farmhouse
the interior walls of a small farmhouse that can be transported back to the city
that can be transported back to the city
that can be transported back to the city for urban dwellers the vast American
for urban dwellers the vast American
for urban dwellers the vast American landscape is recreated in a cell size
landscape is recreated in a cell size
landscape is recreated in a cell size space with walls that appear to be built
space with walls that appear to be built
space with walls that appear to be built out of distance and light and while
out of distance and light and while
out of distance and light and while inside outhouse stages the power of the
inside outhouse stages the power of the
inside outhouse stages the power of the ingested landscape it ignores the
ingested landscape it ignores the
ingested landscape it ignores the actions of the viewer and the reactions
actions of the viewer and the reactions
actions of the viewer and the reactions of the environment to activate my viewer
of the environment to activate my viewer
of the environment to activate my viewer and articulate my environment I animated
and articulate my environment I animated
and articulate my environment I animated the garden with responses to the viewers
the garden with responses to the viewers
the garden with responses to the viewers movements when the viewer gets within
movements when the viewer gets within
movements when the viewer gets within range robotic flowers and close their
range robotic flowers and close their
range robotic flowers and close their petals within their leaves shaking as if
petals within their leaves shaking as if
petals within their leaves shaking as if they’re nervous if the viewer continues
they’re nervous if the viewer continues
they’re nervous if the viewer continues to approach the flowers respond by
to approach the flowers respond by
to approach the flowers respond by becoming aggressive snapping their
becoming aggressive snapping their
becoming aggressive snapping their petals and leaves open and shut
petals and leaves open and shut
petals and leaves open and shut only when the viewer retreats well the
only when the viewer retreats well the
only when the viewer retreats well the flowers relax open their leaves and
flowers relax open their leaves and
flowers relax open their leaves and expose their petals the viewer in turn
expose their petals the viewer in turn
expose their petals the viewer in turn reacts to the to the flowers they will
reacts to the to the flowers they will
reacts to the to the flowers they will either retreat apologetically or embrace
either retreat apologetically or embrace
either retreat apologetically or embrace confrontation with the skittish
confrontation with the skittish
confrontation with the skittish sculptures and approach them as a piece
sculptures and approach them as a piece
sculptures and approach them as a piece of art to be
of art to be
of art to be and understood I’m asking my viewer to
and understood I’m asking my viewer to
and understood I’m asking my viewer to question their responsibility for their
question their responsibility for their
question their responsibility for their environment are the flowers mere objects
environment are the flowers mere objects
environment are the flowers mere objects to be enjoyed or beings with feelings to
to be enjoyed or beings with feelings to
to be enjoyed or beings with feelings to be respected animating my sculptures
be respected animating my sculptures
be respected animating my sculptures makes them seem alive and so how they
makes them seem alive and so how they
makes them seem alive and so how they are made should make sense from within
are made should make sense from within
are made should make sense from within the imaginary world from which they come
the imaginary world from which they come
the imaginary world from which they come I don’t just want my sculptures to look
I don’t just want my sculptures to look
I don’t just want my sculptures to look real I don’t just want them to act real
real I don’t just want them to act real
real I don’t just want them to act real I want them to be what they are in
I want them to be what they are in
I want them to be what they are in organic others born from the constructed
organic others born from the constructed
organic others born from the constructed reality of consumer culture the material
reality of consumer culture the material
reality of consumer culture the material matters I don’t live in a world of raw
matters I don’t live in a world of raw
matters I don’t live in a world of raw material I live in a world of stuff and
material I live in a world of stuff and
material I live in a world of stuff and in my dystopian future the reanimated
in my dystopian future the reanimated
in my dystopian future the reanimated remnants of post-industrial sentience
remnants of post-industrial sentience
remnants of post-industrial sentience will be the survivors of civilization
will be the survivors of civilization
will be the survivors of civilization once its primary function is lost what
once its primary function is lost what
once its primary function is lost what else could it be animating the inanimate
else could it be animating the inanimate
else could it be animating the inanimate brings it to life and brown paper bags
brings it to life and brown paper bags
brings it to life and brown paper bags inspire the same feeling of freedom as
inspire the same feeling of freedom as
inspire the same feeling of freedom as any bird when it takes flight for brown
any bird when it takes flight for brown
any bird when it takes flight for brown paper bag birds highlighting the beauty
paper bag birds highlighting the beauty
paper bag birds highlighting the beauty and the poetry of new Bikila dismissal
and the poetry of new Bikila dismissal
and the poetry of new Bikila dismissal allows us to see a bird and think of
allows us to see a bird and think of
allows us to see a bird and think of freedom and see garbage as a reminder of
freedom and see garbage as a reminder of
freedom and see garbage as a reminder of what’s lost in my dystopian future the
what’s lost in my dystopian future the
what’s lost in my dystopian future the obsolete machine is prime material
obsolete machine is prime material
obsolete machine is prime material especially one is simple and elegant as
especially one is simple and elegant as
especially one is simple and elegant as the bicycle it’s purely mechanical and
the bicycle it’s purely mechanical and
the bicycle it’s purely mechanical and built to last the knower machine is
built to last the knower machine is
built to last the knower machine is constructed like a carnival ride
constructed like a carnival ride
constructed like a carnival ride as the viewer pedals cyclical rolls of
as the viewer pedals cyclical rolls of
as the viewer pedals cyclical rolls of minimalist scenery or propelled past
minimalist scenery or propelled past
minimalist scenery or propelled past mimicking the experience of freedom felt
mimicking the experience of freedom felt
mimicking the experience of freedom felt while riding alone on a country road
while riding alone on a country road
while riding alone on a country road through the crude animation of a broken
through the crude animation of a broken
through the crude animation of a broken machine being brought to life through
machine being brought to life through
machine being brought to life through movement and imagination our environment
movement and imagination our environment
movement and imagination our environment is saturated with the manufactured
is saturated with the manufactured
is saturated with the manufactured castaways people don’t want or need
castaways people don’t want or need
castaways people don’t want or need anymore
anymore
anymore TVs VCRs tape decks computers printer
TVs VCRs tape decks computers printer
TVs VCRs tape decks computers printer hard drive disk drives once valuable
hard drive disk drives once valuable
hard drive disk drives once valuable home purchases are now gathering dust at
home purchases are now gathering dust at
home purchases are now gathering dust at Goodwill or being discarded under the
Goodwill or being discarded under the
Goodwill or being discarded under the guise of electronic recycling what is
guise of electronic recycling what is
guise of electronic recycling what is the value of these machines it was
the value of these machines it was
the value of these machines it was valuable enough for the materials to be
valuable enough for the materials to be
valuable enough for the materials to be mined and processed engineered
mined and processed engineered
mined and processed engineered fabricated shipped and sold and now it’s
fabricated shipped and sold and now it’s
fabricated shipped and sold and now it’s worthless enough for me to chop it up
worthless enough for me to chop it up
worthless enough for me to chop it up and use it as an art material if they
and use it as an art material if they
and use it as an art material if they are no longer needed to do what they
are no longer needed to do what they
are no longer needed to do what they were designed to do do they still have
were designed to do do they still have
were designed to do do they still have value I began taking these orphaned
value I began taking these orphaned
value I began taking these orphaned machines apart and harvesting them for
machines apart and harvesting them for
machines apart and harvesting them for their gears motors and electronics but
their gears motors and electronics but
their gears motors and electronics but the most powerful quality they still
the most powerful quality they still
the most powerful quality they still possess is the poetry of their complex
possess is the poetry of their complex
possess is the poetry of their complex movements so I use these machines to
movements so I use these machines to
movements so I use these machines to puppeteer my kinetic sculptures my
puppeteer my kinetic sculptures my
puppeteer my kinetic sculptures my installations try and seduce my viewer
installations try and seduce my viewer
installations try and seduce my viewer into a childlike fantasy while
into a childlike fantasy while
into a childlike fantasy while illuminating their adult choices you
illuminating their adult choices you
illuminating their adult choices you seek solace in a constructed environment
seek solace in a constructed environment
seek solace in a constructed environment as you would a natural one the Machine
as you would a natural one the Machine
as you would a natural one the Machine escape tries to harness the
escape tries to harness the
escape tries to harness the contemplative feeling people get when
contemplative feeling people get when
contemplative feeling people get when immersed in a dependable rhythmic
immersed in a dependable rhythmic
immersed in a dependable rhythmic environment while alluding to the human
environment while alluding to the human
environment while alluding to the human tendency to try and control and
tendency to try and control and
tendency to try and control and ultimately destroy nature with
ultimately destroy nature with
ultimately destroy nature with technology spinner dress examines the
technology spinner dress examines the
technology spinner dress examines the evolution of music through the mediated
evolution of music through the mediated
evolution of music through the mediated commodification of culture it’s made
commodification of culture it’s made
commodification of culture it’s made from woven Grateful Dead bootleg
from woven Grateful Dead bootleg
from woven Grateful Dead bootleg cassette tapes and the viewer is invited
cassette tapes and the viewer is invited
cassette tapes and the viewer is invited to play the nonlinear recordings by
to play the nonlinear recordings by
to play the nonlinear recordings by fondling a spinning dress sculpture with
fondling a spinning dress sculpture with
fondling a spinning dress sculpture with gloves made from hacked Walkman moving
gloves made from hacked Walkman moving
gloves made from hacked Walkman moving to the American West I was overcome by
to the American West I was overcome by
to the American West I was overcome by how open and exposed it was
how open and exposed it was
how open and exposed it was environmental features come together to
environmental features come together to
environmental features come together to create the texture of the surrounding
create the texture of the surrounding
create the texture of the surrounding landscape it’s the remnants of industry
landscape it’s the remnants of industry
landscape it’s the remnants of industry that are out of place here impromptu
that are out of place here impromptu
that are out of place here impromptu rural shooting pits are an oasis of
rural shooting pits are an oasis of
rural shooting pits are an oasis of implied human activity where acres of
implied human activity where acres of
implied human activity where acres of public land are carpeted with thousands
public land are carpeted with thousands
public land are carpeted with thousands of spent shotgun shells their bounty
of spent shotgun shells their bounty
of spent shotgun shells their bounty mimics the texture of the surrounding
mimics the texture of the surrounding
mimics the texture of the surrounding landscape and are only out of place in
landscape and are only out of place in
landscape and are only out of place in color
color
color and material these bright totems of red
and material these bright totems of red
and material these bright totems of red blue green pink yellow they look like
blue green pink yellow they look like
blue green pink yellow they look like toys or candy an oculus and fun but each
toys or candy an oculus and fun but each
toys or candy an oculus and fun but each one arrives with a secret explosion and
one arrives with a secret explosion and
one arrives with a secret explosion and an engineered intention of bloodshed how
an engineered intention of bloodshed how
an engineered intention of bloodshed how do I talk about our relationship with
do I talk about our relationship with
do I talk about our relationship with this environment I wanted to create a
this environment I wanted to create a
this environment I wanted to create a space that evoked feelings of security
space that evoked feelings of security
space that evoked feelings of security and fear showcasing the overwhelming
and fear showcasing the overwhelming
and fear showcasing the overwhelming bounty of a powerful and dangerous
bounty of a powerful and dangerous
bounty of a powerful and dangerous material made of a mortal plastic
material made of a mortal plastic
material made of a mortal plastic discarded materials linger as a reminder
discarded materials linger as a reminder
discarded materials linger as a reminder to what they once were the harvested
to what they once were the harvested
to what they once were the harvested shells look like scales or cells or the
shells look like scales or cells or the
shells look like scales or cells or the bark of a tree I wove them together into
bark of a tree I wove them together into
bark of a tree I wove them together into the samia basada an enterable biomorphic
the samia basada an enterable biomorphic
the samia basada an enterable biomorphic tree creature explosion that embraces
tree creature explosion that embraces
tree creature explosion that embraces the viewer with its outstretched arms of
the viewer with its outstretched arms of
the viewer with its outstretched arms of reassuring beauty while telling a
reassuring beauty while telling a
reassuring beauty while telling a history of violence and destruction the
history of violence and destruction the
history of violence and destruction the shells can’t hide what they are but
shells can’t hide what they are but
shells can’t hide what they are but showcase their eternal brutal beauty the
showcase their eternal brutal beauty the
showcase their eternal brutal beauty the America of considers the commodification
America of considers the commodification
America of considers the commodification of American culture has seen through
of American culture has seen through
of American culture has seen through Plato’s allegory of the cave the teepees
Plato’s allegory of the cave the teepees
Plato’s allegory of the cave the teepees made from materials that will be
made from materials that will be
made from materials that will be abundantly available after the downfall
abundantly available after the downfall
abundantly available after the downfall of our civilization a hundred pounds of
of our civilization a hundred pounds of
of our civilization a hundred pounds of use bluejeans conduit safety pins and
use bluejeans conduit safety pins and
use bluejeans conduit safety pins and pop tops and of course the captivating
pop tops and of course the captivating
pop tops and of course the captivating hearth is the television a tool used to
hearth is the television a tool used to
hearth is the television a tool used to depict imagined events rather than
depict imagined events rather than
depict imagined events rather than provide actual experience the result is
provide actual experience the result is
provide actual experience the result is eerily familiar and pleasantly
eerily familiar and pleasantly
eerily familiar and pleasantly meditative and on the open road what
meditative and on the open road what
meditative and on the open road what else could a vehicle be a way of
else could a vehicle be a way of
else could a vehicle be a way of transporting us from reality to fantasy
transporting us from reality to fantasy
transporting us from reality to fantasy back to reality
back to reality
back to reality I built the umbrella ship with support
I built the umbrella ship with support
I built the umbrella ship with support from artists trust and students from
from artists trust and students from
from artists trust and students from Washington State’s University to bring
Washington State’s University to bring
Washington State’s University to bring to life the childís assumption of the
to life the childís assumption of the
to life the childís assumption of the way machines could work why do we accept
way machines could work why do we accept
way machines could work why do we accept things for the way things are just
things for the way things are just
things for the way things are just because it’s the way they have always
because it’s the way they have always
because it’s the way they have always been the physical realization of a
been the physical realization of a
been the physical realization of a sailboat gliding across the desert
sailboat gliding across the desert
sailboat gliding across the desert landscape beg for additional illusions
landscape beg for additional illusions
landscape beg for additional illusions reminiscent of a childlike dream vessel
reminiscent of a childlike dream vessel
reminiscent of a childlike dream vessel so the vehicle transitions from bed to
so the vehicle transitions from bed to
so the vehicle transitions from bed to ship to bicycle it’s propelled by a
ship to bicycle it’s propelled by a
ship to bicycle it’s propelled by a large umbrella that can be steered to
large umbrella that can be steered to
large umbrella that can be steered to catch the wind and walking chuck oars a
catch the wind and walking chuck oars a
catch the wind and walking chuck oars a single passenger climbs into the bed
single passenger climbs into the bed
single passenger climbs into the bed boat and is able to sail the umbrella
boat and is able to sail the umbrella
boat and is able to sail the umbrella ship across land
the human all is the piece that I’m
the human all is the piece that I’m currently working on with the Robotics
currently working on with the Robotics
currently working on with the Robotics Club at Washington State University
Club at Washington State University
Club at Washington State University it’s designed to question the
it’s designed to question the
it’s designed to question the relationship between the human and the
relationship between the human and the
relationship between the human and the other machines animals strangers our
other machines animals strangers our
other machines animals strangers our environment how do we hear their voice
environment how do we hear their voice
environment how do we hear their voice in a cold dimly blue lit space a
in a cold dimly blue lit space a
in a cold dimly blue lit space a humanoid animalistic robot pieces back
humanoid animalistic robot pieces back
humanoid animalistic robot pieces back and forth in front of the entrance to a
and forth in front of the entrance to a
and forth in front of the entrance to a fiery red cave it’s a century protecting
fiery red cave it’s a century protecting
fiery red cave it’s a century protecting its lair when it senses an intruder it
its lair when it senses an intruder it
its lair when it senses an intruder it stops turns its head and glows red
stops turns its head and glows red
stops turns its head and glows red voicing its displeasure fear and
voicing its displeasure fear and
voicing its displeasure fear and aggression the viewer is then forced to
aggression the viewer is then forced to
aggression the viewer is then forced to respond to this challenge deciding
respond to this challenge deciding
respond to this challenge deciding whether to heed the warnings of a being
whether to heed the warnings of a being
whether to heed the warnings of a being of unknown power and back off or embrace
of unknown power and back off or embrace
of unknown power and back off or embrace the human alas a piece of art to be
the human alas a piece of art to be
the human alas a piece of art to be examined and understood upon inspection
examined and understood upon inspection
examined and understood upon inspection familiar materials reveal a second
familiar materials reveal a second
familiar materials reveal a second ambiguous relationship the human l and
ambiguous relationship the human l and
ambiguous relationship the human l and cave are made from discarded plastic
cave are made from discarded plastic
cave are made from discarded plastic water bottles and shopping bags the
water bottles and shopping bags the
water bottles and shopping bags the bringer of life and the polluter of land
bringer of life and the polluter of land
bringer of life and the polluter of land we made this angry environment where we
we made this angry environment where we
we made this angry environment where we are not welcome our actions have
are not welcome our actions have
are not welcome our actions have profound impact on the world around us
profound impact on the world around us
profound impact on the world around us but often go unnoticed for better or for
but often go unnoticed for better or for
but often go unnoticed for better or for worse how do we feel the effect of our
worse how do we feel the effect of our
worse how do we feel the effect of our actions how do we take responsibility
actions how do we take responsibility
actions how do we take responsibility for what we do in a way that inspires
for what we do in a way that inspires
for what we do in a way that inspires understanding and change I build
understanding and change I build
understanding and change I build responsive environments that through
responsive environments that through
responsive environments that through action and reaction material and
action and reaction material and
action and reaction material and illusion fantasy and reality ask the
illusion fantasy and reality ask the
illusion fantasy and reality ask the viewer to question their actions in the
viewer to question their actions in the
viewer to question their actions in the past present and future thank you
past present and future thank you
past present and future thank you you
”
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