Description
17 Hr Days is a body of work that re-creates physical and mental sensations experienced on construction job sites. The work evokes curiosity and discovery in exploring the transitory and incomplete spaces of a work site from the perspective of a child while simultaneously examining the patient and expert understanding of structures and the integrity of specific materials and processes. 17 Hr Days includes three sculptural objects and two installations comprised of materials familiar to conventional construction methods. The concept is realized through sculptural manifestations of experiences had on construction sites. Concrete, timber, string and steel are fashioned into structures which relate to the visual aesthetic of the construction field yet have no identifiable purpose. The act of exploring spaces, scrambling through piles of lumber, and the awe of jobsite systems are recreated as sculpture and installation for the viewer to explore in a gallery setting transforming the mundane jobsite into surreal environments of color, texture and process. The work encompasses the gallery structure itself, directing the viewer to consider the materials via a close lens. Installations pass through or cut an entry out of the gallery wall itself. The sculptures bring focus to the weight and tension affixed to walls or ceiling and hover with wavering stability above the floor. Questions of safety are present, causing one to weigh whether or not to explore details closer, or move back. This body of work was exhibited at the San Diego State University Gallery from May 5th to May 14th, 2015 and images of this thesis project are on file in the school of Art, Design, and Art History.
