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Description
Built In is based on the premise that the home is an extension of the body and that we have subconscious physical and psychological connections to our built environment. Fixtures like sinks, bathtubs, and heaters reference the body explicitly because they serve basic biological needs. They are often overlooked. It is this invisibility combined with their familiarity and intimate nature that gives them power. I abstract these built-in fixtures to explore themes of time, memory, emotion, and entropy. In addition to fixtures, I am drawn to the unseen spaces of the home. Concealed subspaces under floors and inside walls are time capsules. Their exposure suggests bringing what is hidden or forgotten to light. We have a visceral understanding of these spaces as mysterious and filled with the unknown. I evoke them by stripping down architectural elements to skeletal wood frames. Materiality is an important component of these works. Douglas fir is used in the frames to reference its actual use in the building trade. Objects that are typically made from metal or porcelain are carved from basswood, giving them warmth. Handmade textiles are used to create fragile renderings of things that are usually durable, such as vinyl flooring. Textiles serve as a link between the body and architecture. The softness of cloth echoes the fragility of our own bodies. Water is used and also suggested through other materials to imply an underlying source. We understand it on a cellular level as a vital need. We use it ritually to maintain our bodies and homes through washing. Across many cultures and religions, it is a symbol of dissolution, regeneration, and rebirth. In Jungian psychology, it represents subconsciousness. I intend for these works to elicit a sense of quietness and uncanniness that is understood through the body. I use material shifts and alterations of space and color to arouse feelings of disorientation, possibility, and openness. I seek to create moments in which vulnerability feels simultaneously unsettling and peaceful—Spaces where one might dwell in groundlessness. Built In was exhibited in the University Gallery at San Diego State University from April 15-25, 2019.
