I showed a cluster of sculptural works for Your Moodiest, a group exhibition curated by Alana Heiss for Your Mood Gallery in San Francisco. The pedestal is actually made from wood that I repurposed from a modular garment rack I made a while back when I was a clothing designer and doing road trips for sales. So this pedestal also breaks down easily for transport. The hanging knob for Porpoise also comes from that garment rack. The fabrics are made from remnants of my clothes making practice as well as fancy fabric samples from a furniture showroom I used to work at. A Hobbyhorse is primarily made from offcuts gifted by designer friend Carol Miltimore of Seek Collective. I activated the hobbyhorse at the closing reception by galloping around the gallery and riding off into the sunset. In both Lotus and Tell Them I Said No, I’ve been thinking about scholar’s rocks and the heart sutra. Tell Them I Said No takes its title from a book of essays about artists who’ve elected to withdraw from the art world. There is power in refusal!
Whenever possible, I prefer to repurpose, instead of buying new materials to make my work.
In another corner of the gallery, I had a hand-painted sympathy card that was available for anyone to take if they had the need for it.
Your Mood Gallery is a real gem, a rare kind of space that’s great for getting experimental. Your Mood was founded by Bay Area artist Selby Sohn in 2020.
Tell Them I Said No, 2022
20” H x 15” W x 3” D
Jacquard fabric, wire, kapok, acrylic molding paste, custom wood pedestal
Lotus, 2021
13” H x 22” W x 2” D
Jacquard fabric, kapok, acrylic, molding paste, sewing machine needles
Porpoise, 2023
Variable height but kidney shape is 8” H x 15”W x 1”D
Assorted fabrics, copper tubing, cotton batting, wooden dowel
A Hobbyhorse, 2022
45” H X 13” W x 3” D
Cotton, silk, Ultrasuede, leather, kapok, wooden dowel
Condolences, 2023
6.5” H x 4.75” W folded dimensions
Acrylic on Stonehenge paper, envelope