I
have found that as I go through the course of a day there are many small
delights hiding in the drab trappings of daily routines. It seems that when we
see and hear things regularly they can lose their splendor and intrigue. It is
also easy to miss the smaller things which can create delight. I like to spend
a few minutes noticing the smaller elements of things because those elements
often bring new life to something that monotonously exists in the world. The
variance in a bird’s call, the squeak, scrape and clicking noises of my door,
the way the lock around my computer has a thick transparent skin while under
that is something that looks like a beautiful silver snake, the way texture and
pattern play on my purse: these are all things I enjoy. They are the
interesting little elements that make up the objects of monotony in my life.
My
enjoyment of the little elements around me has translated into work which
typically uses smaller elements to create a larger piece. I like to make pieces
where each small part is just as enjoyable and important as the whole piece.
Sometimes I use layers of visual or audible elements to build a piece. Other
times, by showing something unusually magnified or cropped, an element becomes
the piece. I think John Baldasari is an artist who thinks a little like I do.
He looks at the smaller elements in things and calls attention to what he
notices about them.
My
interest in elements creates an openness to work with a variety of mediums.
Each medium can lend itself to a new exploration of elements. Sound, video,
animation, photography, drawing, and painting are all mediums I have worked
with in trying to create an awareness of the beauty that hides within the
mundane. As time goes on I hope to continue to experiment with ways to continue
drawing the attention of others to the little things.
