Power
April 14 -21, 2021
This is an action work that took place in a house that was built in 1922 in southern Oregon. It would have received a basic single phase electrical service in the 1930s, consisting of two electrical outlets and a single light bulb and socket. It was built on land originally inhabited by Native American Takeelma before the colony, and it operated as an auto camp and Shell gas station until 1934.
The work is a physical manifestation consisting of three stages, repeated in a loop. Charge-Action-Object. The charge produces an action. This action creates an object that converts electrical charges and returns to the source of the charge in the form of light.
Forces consideration of the historical intersection between native American and colonizing and western totems of worship as well as questions of domain, ownership, and the public vs private space. As the work enabled me to physically insulate and separate, it simultaneously represents basic systems, past and present, that have been used in the creation and control of culture and class by those with the Power.
Transformation of standard gallery space to challenge discussion of Who has access to view work?
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Access to spaces depending on class defined by socio-economics
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Lower Space appears "void" of work. Access to the "top spaces" is opaque and suppressed.
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Viewers under the sheet are "observed"
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Uses space, materials and room to change presentation of traditional modalities from a object based (sculptures) to a reflection and self observation
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Air Conditioning ( privileged experience) is above. Warm and still ambient temperature, basic utilities below
Continuing investigation on human and industrial balance and co existence
Purposeful manipulation of common tool known as a "tie down" used to secure objects in spaces, typically of automotive nature in transportation. Shipping containers were used as industrial anchor that was tied to existing trees that are "captured" in an unnatural environment. The purposed of trees negated and relegated to " human experience" only such as beautification and adornment. The ongoing balance and compromise of both object and human interaction and their effect on both systems.
Outside of gallery initiated to elicit impromptu responses and interaction.
Relegated by security and hierarchy.
The work was sculpture that used materials specific to the industrial trades. Steel, construction, railroads, printing. The subject investigated was one of the scale and balance between humans and industrial vs natural environments.
The work was manipulated every day throughout the 6 days to emphasise no permanence and to encourage the viewer to either remember the previous days installation , or experience it as a wholly new sculpture if not seen previous.