Abstract
By alluding to genitalia, "If I Had One-It Would Be Huge" calls attention to the need in contemporary society to eliminate gender bias in favor of more relevant criteria for evaluating an individual's worth and potential. Gender is never an appropriate criterion. By referring to "one," it also alludes to bringing what appears to be opposite elements, materials, and viewpoints into compatibility. On examination of the completed pieces which I selected for the thesis exhibit, I found that a quote from Eugene Delacroix1 was very appropriate as the "Artist's Statement" for my thesis exhibit: The scientist discovers the elements of things, if you like, and the artist, with elements having no value in the place they chance to be, composes, invents a unity, in one word, creates; he strikes the imagination of men by the spectacle of his creations, and in a particular manner. He renders clear the sensations that things arouse within us, and which the great run of men, in the presence of nature, only vaguely see and feel. This thesis also describes the installation of my work in general and in terms of the materials in the four individual pieces. "Opposite" elements are incorporated into four pieces (Untitled-Slide #1, Chick-Slides #2 and #3, Building-Slides #4 and #5, and Altar-Slide #6) primarily through the use of unusual combinations of materials. In addition to the material combinations that make up the installation, symbolic elements are also suggestive of "opposite" elements. The choice of particular materials is based on the interpretation of the environment and what seems to dominate it. Each of the pieces is intended to be clear, honest, non-didactic, and accessible.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Sculpture, Modern--United States--Exhibitions
Publication Date
6-1-1992
Document Type
Thesis
Department, Program, or Center
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences (CIAS)
Advisor
Leinroth, Martha
Advisor/Committee Member
White, Ken
Recommended Citation
Matthews, Melissa Lee, "If i had one -- it would be huge" (1992). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/5673
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Comments
Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: NB212.5.A27 M38 1992