Hold On (I’m Nervous)
I have made a habit of not wanting to look at my art pieces once they are finished or have not turned out as planned. Which is kind of depressing and has to do with not wanting people to see them and also has to with not having places to put them up. They don’t really comfort me like they do for some people, they more remind me that I need to me making something new and pushing myself further. If for no other reason, I must push myself to confront the issue.
So, I had to go and pick up some of my pieces today. I want to share them with you because I really wanted people to see them. The final critique was only three people and felt strange. I have promised to share what I’m working on with you, let’s start here and begin to locate ourselves.
This is a project that I did for Ceramics III this past spring. It is called “Hold On.“
The first (best) step was making the mold. I lay down on my back with straws in my nose, covered my eyebrows and eyelashes with petroleum jelly, cut a hole in a trash bag and poked my face through. Next, my teacher poured mixed plaster onto my face and I lay there, pounds of chemical-reactive pressure on my face. Once I got past the initial fear of my nose-holes filling up, it was really nice just to relax in the solitary weight. After ten or twenty minutes I had people help me sit up while I held the weight it my hands and began to try and pry it off my face. My skin was fire red and hairless. All the other students just stared at me like I was on fire. I felt magnificent.
Unfortunately, the results of the mold, because of the pressure, made me look dead. The first face I made was very surreal. I could fit my face into the back or kiss my own eye. I loved it.
The project went through many phases and the process took me a little over three months to create. They are made from B’s Mix white clay slip. Even now, they did not come out as I had hoped. The firing turned the tin-violet stain that normally comes out purple-pink, into green.
As you can see the result looks somewhat like bruises. I had wanted the faces to look lively. The hand prints to be symbols of heat and contact. Love.
In full installation, the viewer would approach the face and touch it while simultaneously listening to this audio piece.
I am still playing with some ideas of using the mold with different materials, like hard candy or other decomposable material. It will be something that makes it irresistible to contact with one of the senses.
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Bizarro!
Comment by Matthew — June 29, 2007 #
No, really though. Thank you for sharing yourself. I always am so hyped about your projects.
Comment by Matthew — June 29, 2007 #
I love the way you laid out the pictures. Molds are so exciting, endless potential! Please share always, so I can locate you. I feel comforted by seeing this.
Comment by Alisha — July 1, 2007 #
I love love the audio. Laura, your speaking voice is like Karin from one of my favorite bands, “over the rhine”…check ‘em out…www.myspace.com/overtherhine They’re beautiful and everything Karin says in between songs makes you want her to stay on stage all night and talk and sing and talk. Your voice has that same capturing pull. fuck yeah to the fuck!
Comment by johanna — July 1, 2007 #
I remember hearing a little bit about this project a while ago and am glad that “the secrets out”. I think Hold On is a stunning idea and the fact that the eyes and faces were affected by real hands aroused a lot of thought to me. Bravo. Good layout on this post, too!
Comment by Jordan — July 3, 2007 #
This is weird. Probably real weird. But could I have one of these? I know we talked about it before…but now the internets have heard how badly i want your chalky face lying on my nightstand. pillow. Maybe a birthday present? (loveydovey)
Comment by jennabee — July 7, 2007 #
Jenna: we should talk about this before you leave. I have a few questions.
Also, to everyone who reads this, if you have similar desires. we can talk about it. okay?
(((Take Care)))
Comment by Laura — July 7, 2007 #