Date of Award

December 2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Art

Committee Member

Todd McDonald

Committee Member

Andrea Feeser

Committee Member

David Detrich

Abstract

Throughout our lives, a plethora of influences in some way or another, determine who we are by constructing our identities and the perception of who we are. Understanding this is important as we attempt to discover self, amongst our experiences. My work investigates the way that cultural, familial, environmental, social, and other external factors affect the internal construction of self. The accumulation of imposed influences leaves little room for self which calls to question, “who are we if not for our predisposed circumstances?”. Through the collective use of textures, patterns, and colors found in fabric, the sculptures in this work portray the overwhelming influx of influences. My sculpture includes domestic furniture such as chairs, rugs, and wallpaper as a metaphor between one’s mind and the foundational elements of a home. That is to say, the mind is the home of every person. In a response to the sculptures, the paintings depict an awareness and internalization of self which appear as formed spiritual and sacred entities. The titles of this work become very important as they represent two different high and low understanding of self. The sculpture titles are relative to specific dates and places or events, which are influential but not an internalized version of self . These moments are significant as they are chaotic and represent times when understanding of self is being pulled in every direction. The other half of the work, the paintings, are simply titled with single names of people. My intention with this work is to evoke a desire in the viewer to investigate their understanding of self and acknowledge their overwhelming amount of identities and personalities that construct them.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.