Abstract

This thesis seeks to explain and explore the work in Proving Ground, the thesis exhibition that accompanies this written thesis. The exhibition consists of an installation titled Proving Ground, a series of photographs titled All New Materials, and a series of small sculpture titled New Evolutions.

The installation Proving Ground is a set of life size animals; a cow, deer, and two smaller creatures that reference Romulus and Remus. The cow and the deer are made out of paper mache and discarded stuffed animals. Romulus and Remus are made out of paper mache and horse hair. It is in this installation that the foundation myth of Rome is explored and well as transmutation and genetic mutations that can occur from nuclear fallout.

The photographs All New Materials seek to investigate the transformation of materials from discarded stuffed animals to animal hides. In the photographs the materiality of the project is at play.

The sculptures New Evolutions showcase playfulness in the materials of the mutated stuffed animals. The sculptures exhibit possible transformations and evolutions of the creatures in the fictitious Proving Ground.

Artists of influence in this work include Matthew Ritchie, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Kara Walker, Annette Messager, Vik Muniz, Peter Goin, and Emmitt Gowin.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Installations (Art)--Themes, motives; Photography, Artistic--Themes, motives; Sculpture--Themes, motives; Mutation (Biology)--Pictorial works

Publication Date

11-8-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Imaging Arts (MFA)

Advisor

Myra Greene

Advisor/Committee Member

Dan Larkin

Advisor/Committee Member

Jessica Lieberman

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at N6494.I56 S42 2006

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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