Abstract

This thesis focuses on the role of memory in identity development and discusses the creation of work that explores transitions that we go through in life, the effects of time on our relationships, and the shifts that happen within the person involved. The emphasis of my exploration is the investigation of states of being where the past is more than a memory, and the future is yet unclear.

Everyone grows through liminal states, especially in this time of globalization and social change. There are some rituals to help us transition into different social roles and stages of life, such as birthdays, weddings, or funerals, but these are not the only changes in an individual’s life.

What happens if there is no ritual to assist with a transition? How does getting caught in the in-between state, a liminal hotspot, affect one’s development and sense of identity? What happens when our stories become intertwined, and one decision affects generations? Is it possible to change these patterns?

Drawing inspiration from my own journey through cultures, relationships, and shifts in identity, Buddhist thoughts of interdependency, research of liminal periods and liminal hotspots, I have investigated in both: two-dimensional and sculptural work, the idea of interconnectivity and the effects of environments and relationships on our development.

While experimenting with reproductive processes of making, such as printmaking and metal casting, I developed a vocabulary of symbols that allowed me to construct formal relationships between objects and images. This resulted in the creation of a singular body of work that functions as a sort of collection of souvenirs from various quiet, but pivotal points in my journey.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Memory in art; Identity (Psychology) in art; Prints--Themes, motives; Metal sculpture--Themes, motives

Publication Date

7-29-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Department, Program, or Center

School of Art (CAD)

Advisor

Clifford Wun

Advisor/Committee Member

Elizabeth Kronfield

Advisor/Committee Member

Eileen Feeney Bushnell

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

FNAS-MFA

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