Revised Artist Statement... and vent

[Artist Statement]-Revised...again...

The way in which I approach my work often comes from dark humor and play. I am interested in the traditional functionality of objects and in altering that function. I combine many traditional mediums in order to explore my concepts in a variety of sensory experiences.

I am making a game that the viewers can’t win, by showing them the possibility of entertainment while I control the extent in which they are able to experience or participate with that entertainment. My work is concentrating on worldly historic violence with a specific focus on Medieval war machines; combining them with contemporary child-like imagery in regards to the bold, solid colors found in ball pits, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other iconic childhood references.

For example, I catapulted a 10-pound rib eye into a ball-pit. The balls were light weight enough that when the meat hit, they erupted into the air. Then I showed the images captured of the one-time event and displayed those suspended in the air with the sculptural remains in the gallery.

I am interested in setting up a type of conflicting experience for the viewer, subverting their automatic response. It is not my intention for a viewer to walk away from my work with an angelic feeling. It is quite the opposite; rather, I would expect the viewer to walk away with uncertainty and an unsettled stomach.

So, I am in the process of doing all of my grad school applications..I have everything completed on them except for uploading my final portfolio and statement of purpose.. I am working on those still. I got my two participatory drawings and my guillotine sculpture done over break.. Monday we start back in classes.. and I have decided that since I am not happy with the way any of my critiques/oral preps have been successful or constructive from last semester and with actual orals just over a week away (ahh..) that I am no longer going to talk about things in my work that I do not want to talk about. I have felt as though their are certain concepts or questions that peers and professors have brought up that suggest that they want me to talk about those aspects in my work. I will continue to answer questions to the best of my ability but as far as any initiating of conversation or opening statements are concern, from here on out, I am strictly sticking to what it is about the work that I want and would like others to discuss with me. I think that I was just going about this whole talking about our work thing the wrong way, so I am going to try and change that. As far as grad schools are concerned, I am sending in applications to Hunter College (top choice), NYU, Rutgers, and Montclair... the first three deadlines are up on Friday..