One circle Again
A series of temporary, site specific sculptures in public locations.
They are ecosocial sketches, initiated as a response to the persistent bias against women, non-binary people, and minorities in permanent public art sculpture commissions. Each became an interaction between myself and symptoms of our changing climate, such as extreme weather events and sea level rise. They question sustainability in public art processes through using only site materials and constructed in harmony with local ecologies.
Climate change is a symptom of a problem—lack of diversity, lack of respect for the natural world, and a fractured view of how we relate to living systems. Humans are not separate from our waters, soils, plants, and species. We are one and the same. Achieving unity will heal social and environmental fractures.
Quonset
There’s a humble beach surrounded by industry and the bay. Once Narragansett tribe territory, the Quonset Point area has a layered history intersecting culture and nature.
I visited at low tide, and stacked the rounded ocean bricks at the water’s edge in a broken circular wall structure.
Quonset, ocean brick, 3.5 ft x 3.5 ft x 2 ft., January 2021.
Push Harder
After a heavy snowfall, I created five snow sculptures in a public park. Each work measures my physical strength and ability to push harder.
These quickly melted after a sharp fluctuation into warm temperatures.
Push Harder, snow and detritus, 33 ft. x 61 ft. x 4.5 ft., December 2020.
Storm Water Interruption
Heavy rainfall created flooding, because of previous snowfall and compacted soil conditions on the path.
A group of two circular clearings, their diameter equates to my above-average height. The installations were placed on a walking path, so as not to be ignored.
Storm Water Interruption, snow, leaf litter, storm water, 5 ft. 10 in. diameter, edition of 2, December 2020.
Resources
Below are helpful facts on public art made by women. Thank you to the National Museum of Women in the Arts for helping me find these resources, and providing facts about women in the arts.
For more reading on climate, I recommend All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson.