Workshop: construction in found materials - as implemented at The Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

Project description:

Using salvaged cardboard, a team of workers and I carried out the construction of a child-scaled cardboard fort. The construction was completely unplanned, as were the color decisions -they were entirely guided by the children who attended the event. During the first manifestation, the boxes were painted and screwed onto the main structure as they dried. A later project reused the previous materials. To aid in construction, and to avoid injury, I built several hundred feet of square cardboard tubing. This served as a structural element as well as simple backing for the screws that held the fort together.

I am refining this project as a semi-participatory performative construction installation. I hope to work in a Museum/Gallery context directly with the audience.

Images are from the first run of the project as a family oriented workshop. Please click the thumbnails for the complete images.

Workshop: Artist in Residence

Project description:

Over the course of a one week residency working with 300 elementary school students (grades 1,3 and 5) we constructed a temporary text-based sculptural installation. We spoke about teamwork, ownership and the role of the maker/author/artist, in a very straightforward way. We continuously discussed the skills that artists need that are less obvious, like reading, spelling and math. I worked with students to paint, construct, stencil and ultimately assemble the piece in a highly collaborative setting. Using salvaged cardboard, we built approximately 80 "cells" of words. As they were completed, we spent time organizing clusters and effectively, shaping meaning. Students were responsible for the configuration of the words, derived from my own writing.

Please click the thumbnails for the complete images.