While We Are Still Here

Date

2024

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Alfred University

Abstract

"My relational sculptures aim to help us express grief, connect with each other, and remind us of our mortality. They emphasize who we still have in our lives by honoring those we have lost. The pieces come alive when people engage with them as well as through the documentation of public and private rituals. To share pieces activated outside of the gallery space, I collect stories from participants in the form of writings, video, and remnants.1 Dying and living are two sides of the same coin. If we refuse to acknowledge our own mortality, refuse to make space for loss, we cannot live fully. Though I think about death more than most, living inspires my practice. Life is at its best when we are present with each other, when we share experiences. These interactive pieces exist to commune. My work posits that intimacy is worth the vulnerability it requires. Giving space to grieve and forming intentional intimate spaces is an act of remembering those we care about. I believe we should make the most of the life we have left with the people around us."

Description

Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY.

Keywords

MFA thesis, Division of Ceramic Art

Citation

DOI