passing down: a utilitarian aesthetic

 My work focuses on ideas surrounding craft versus fine art and utilitarian versus decorative objects. Many of the pieces toe the line between both. The inspiration for my work often reflects my personal family structures and home settings. The mediums used are ceramics, weaving, paper making, furniture design and other woodworking processes, along with many repurposed materials from my family members.  I wanted to show an appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and what may be considered lesser arts while recognizing the importance of the aesthetic and conceptual qualities that fine art addresses. 

For example, the wooden hutch was built with my dad and the table with my papa. To me, the process of building with them and problem solving together was an artistic process that built something completely utilitarian. The materials used and processes of making the artwork carry most of the conceptual meaning behind them. Most of the wood used in my furniture pieces are remnants from jobs my dad has done. The weavings have scraps of my grandma's clothing. The sheet metal scraps on the bison my papa made. The frames for the recycled paper are made from my childhood swing set and so on.