hand turned wood from the door of a house of worship, steel, lead, toddler shoes, milk paint, spray paint, stain, hardware, 16 x 16 x 24
This piece is normally displayed in the center of the floor, highlighting the randomness of death in warfare and the children who are victims of this. The additional layer of the wood from the house of worship comes from my previous attempt at this piece – addressing the consequences of warfare fought through the lens of extreme religious ideologies (of any kind), the potential for religion to fuel war and religion becoming weaponized.
hand turned wood from the door of a house of worship, steel, lead, toddler shoes, milk paint, spray paint, stain, hardware
detail view
hand turned wood from the door of a house of worship, steel, lead, toddler shoes, milk paint, spray paint, stain, hardware
gallery view
hand turned wood from the door of a house of worship, stain, milk paint, steel, hardware, acrylic tube, approx. 11 ft in height
This piece has a duality to it: the potential for religion to fuel war and religion also becoming weaponized. The intention for it was to be a time-based piece, moving through the wall or ceiling providing viewers a life-sized opportunity to view and think about this type of violence.
hand turned wood from the door of a house of worship, stain, milk paint, steel, hardware, acrylic tube
detail view
Afghan burqas, dye, thread, wooden armature, 16 x 16 x 65 in
This particular piece focuses attention towards the silent victims of the war Afghanistan: local national civilian women living in these war-torn areas. In no way am I attempting speak for the victims of these atrocities, but rather to draw attention to them. These women are forced to wear “camouflage” because their homes have become a battlefield, their “uniforms” are assigned to them by their oppressors, and so often these victims are unseen. In this manner I chose authentic fabric from Afghanistan to convey these pains as I previously witnessed them during my time in Afghanistan.
Afghan burqas, dye, thread, wooden armature
back view
Afghan burqas, dye, thread, wooden armature
detail view (front)
Afghan burqas, dye, thread, wooden armature
detail view (back)
Afghan burqas, dye, thread, wooden armature
gallery view
concrete, rebar, shrubs native to Afghanistan, 8 x 69 x 24 in
This piece was inspired by recent events in Syria and personal experience seeing destruction in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea of the world as people know it, being crushed and damaged by the conflict. It questions how people survives these atrocities and what that might look or feel like.
concrete, rebar, shrubs native to Afghanistan, 2 ft x 6 ft
detail view
concrete, rebar, shrubs native to Afghanistan, 2 ft x 6 ft
detail view
2019 hand-forged and welded steel, 14.5 x 10 ¾ x 10 ¾ inches
This vessel takes symbols from traditional blacksmithing (the scroll) and combines it with a design from the Persian empire. The steel as a reference to the objects of warfare (weapons and vehicles). Painfully forged together, after all the years of fighting, what have we accomplished? What can this vessel hold? (translation: vessel of hope)
hand-forged and welded steel, 14.5 x 10 ¾ x 10 ¾ inches
detail view
detail view
hand-forged and welded steel, 14.5 x 10 ¾ x 10 ¾ inches
Medium: acrylic ink, couch foam, installation size varies
This piece specifically references the number of U.S. military casualties in all theaters of war in the Middle East and Africa since September 11, 2001. After 20 years of warfare, the general public has seemingly forgotten the costs of these conflicts. The density of the installation, made from a couch cushion stamp (a reference to home/sacrifices), each stamp equating to one life lost. The number has changed each time this piece is installed due to ongoing deaths from the conflict. Inspired by SK.
acrylic ink, couch foam, installation size varies
detail view
burqa from Afghanistan, artist’s military uniform buttons from uniform worn in Afghanistan, Kevlar pulp, thread, 11 ¾ x 11 x 9 in
This piece is about the children left behind in war zones and how they are remembered by Soldiers. The reflection of love is similar to a parent’s love, who seek comfort in the very items that remind them of the child. The Kevlar within is normally used as a protective outer layer, but instead on the inside as a representation of strength. The bear is completely original – designed and created by the artist.
burqa from Afghanistan, artist’s military uniform buttons from uniform worn in Afghanistan, Kevlar pulp, thread
detail view
burqa from Afghanistan, artist’s military uniform buttons from uniform worn in Afghanistan, Kevlar pulp, thread
detail view
burqa from Afghanistan, artist’s military uniform buttons from uniform worn in Afghanistan, Kevlar pulp, thread
detail view
reclaimed barb wire, steel wire
acrylic ink, couch cushion
installation
This piece specifically references the number of U.S. military casualties in all theaters of war in the Middle East and Africa since September 11, 2001. After 18 years of warfare, the general public has seemingly forgotten the costs of these conflicts. The density of the installation, made from a couch cushion stamp (a reference to home/sacrifices), each stamp equating to one life lost. The number has changed each time this piece is installed due to ongoing deaths from the conflict. These numbers are from the Department of Defense and are updated for each installation. Inspired by SK.
acrylic ink, couch cushion
installation
acrylic ink, couch cushion
detail view
photograph of dismantled pieces of reclaimed couch, 24 x 24 in
This is an image of a couch that I physically dismantled by hand. This process was me slowly destroying something of value that parallels that sacrifice and ultimate slow, painful destruction of personal relationships, which often comes with military service.
in progress dismantling of armchair
wooden couch frame, couch fabric, wood glue, 31.5 x 50 x 22.25 in
These is a weapons system that is used for both offensive and defensive operations, and is portable. This again, made out of the sacrificed friend and familial relationships that have suffered due to military service and deployments.
wooden couch frame, couch fabric, wood glue
detail view
wooden couch frame, couch fabric, wood glue
detail view
wooden couch frame, couch fabric, wood glue
detail view
couch fabric, couch foam, couch stuffing, couch string, thread, individual dimension 2.5 x 2.5 x 7 in (10 total)
This is a component - the ammunition - for the weapons system (mortar tube) used for both offensive and defensive operations. This again, made out of the sacrificed friend and familial relationships that have suffered due to military service and deployments.
couch fabric, couch foam, couch stuffing, couch string, thread
detail view
couch fabric, couch foam, couch stuffing, couch string, thread
couch fabric, thread, sand, 8 x 30 x 2.5 in
This is a military issue item, critical for fighting, and critical for survival. They are made out of the sacrificed relationships that have suffered due to military service and deployments. These items are made out the softness of the fabric and materials referencing the home life. In order to create these objects, I had to destroy an object that was representative of the home meanwhile it’s given purpose involves destruction. The heavy weight associated with these objects carries the weight felt by service members experiencing these types of losses and sacrifices. Object pattern is original - based off of a to-scale model of an M4 rifle drawn, modeled, and created by the artist.
couch fabric, thread, sand
detail view
couch fabric, thread, sand
detail view
couch fabric, thread, couch stuffing, sand, 7 x 10 x 4.5 in
This is a military issue item, critical for survival, made from the sacrificed relationships that have suffered due to military service and deployments. These items are made out the softness of the fabric and materials referencing the home life. In order to create these objects, I had to destroy an object that was representative of the home. The heavy weight associated with these objects carries the weight felt by service members experiencing these types of losses and sacrifices. This objects is created after a to scale military issue canteen and was designed, modeled, and created by the artist.
couch fabric, thread, couch stuffing, sand
detail view
reclaimed marble, steel, sand
reclaimed marble, steel, sand
bronze, patina
bronze, patina
reclaimed steel
reclaimed steel
(as seen with shadows)
reclaimed steel
side view with shadows
reclaimed steel
reclaimed steel
reclaimed steel
reclaimed steel
side view
reclaimed steel
side view
reclaimed steel
reclaimed steel
fabric, artist’s military uniform from Afghanistan, thread, polyester filler
fabric, artist’s military uniform from Afghanistan, thread, polyester filler
detail view
concrete, steel, lath, artificial plants, artificial moss
fabric, artist’s military uniform from Afghanistan, thread, polyester filler
detail view of embroidery
concrete, steel, lath, aluminum mesh, artificial plants, artificial moss
concrete, steel, lath, aluminum mesh, artificial plants, artificial moss
detail view
concrete, steel, lath, aluminum mesh, artificial plants, artificial moss
detail view
concrete, steel, lath, aluminum mesh, artificial plants, artificial moss
detail view
bronze, hardware, paint, paper, plaster, polymer clay, steel, watercolor, wood
bronze, hardware, paint, paper, plaster, polymer clay, steel, watercolor, wood
detail view of Cyrus Cylinder constructed by hand (wood)
bronze, hardware, paint, paper, plaster, polymer clay, steel, watercolor, wood
detail shot of bronze and plaster cast items and handmade prayer beads
steel, lath, wire, concrete, broken mirror
steel, lath, aluminum mesh, wire
in progress photograph
steel, lath, aluminum mesh, wire
process photograph