Unearthed

pine

10’ x 10’ x 15”

Our daily transportation habits are responsible for over a fourth of the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere; it is the second leading source of carbon emission within the United States. Unearthed, is designed as a wheel to illustrate a foundational mechanism that heightened transportation during the Industrial Revolution. The spikes reference saw blades to illustrate the destruction the rise of transportation has made on the environment. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels have increased by 33 percent. The transportation sector is responsible for over 50% of nitrogen oxide total emission, over 30% of volatile organic compounds emissions, and over 20% of particulate matter within the U.S (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). As carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, elements of the earth change and shift; as a human operates the wheel sculpture, the spikes de-surfaces the ground it touches with every step.

Eco-Crawler

aluminum, birch velcro,

11’ x 7’ x 4’

2016

The rise of invasive species is one of the greatest threats to wildlife across the globe. Invasive wildlife threatens the native species by reproducing on new land, destroying previous habitats, spreading of diseases, and killing off the previous inhabitants. Humans are invasive species; in connection to civilization’s behavior, Eco-Crawler causes similar damages that invasive species cause to ecosystems. The machine is designed with similar attributes of an industrial landfill claw machine to illustrate human nature to take what we please without considering the consequences. The design represents the characteristics of a king crab, the world’s most invasive species; they have the ability to kill anything in its path, and they have no climate barriers for progression. The human operates the machine and gains the power to hover, destroy, and migrate to the new environment. As humans continue to warm the planet and transport goods across seas, invasive species continue to migrate and destroy larger habitats and endanger their prey. I aim to describe how humans are the cause of the rising problem of invasive species across the globe. 

Smog Rider

steel, birch, aluminum, and two fog machines

12’ x 15” x 4’

The fossil fuel industry is one of the major contributors to the rising rate of climate change due to trapping excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The gases released into the air affect all living species that breathe carbon dioxide, destroy habitats of climate specific species, and overall warm the planet at an ever-increasing rate. According to National Aeronautics and Space Admiration, the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled within the last 50 years, which has been directly linked to the increase of burning fossil fuels. The creation of a functional teeter-totter in the design of an oil drill creates an enjoyable experience for the participants as their behavior generates an acidic trail of smog into the atmosphere. The toxic energy produced through operation illustrates how human actions are the root cause of the rising air pollution levels. I strive to illustrate the ignorance within human’s leisure activities that increase climate change ratings, extinction rate, and carbon levels within the atmosphere. 

The Carbon Cover

birch, air filters, mesh filter, foam, aluminum, artificial sinew, mask, velcro, mannequin

4’ x 4’ x 4’

The average forest has 350 million years of experience sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Carbon Cover is designed in response to the high rate of deforestation, civilization’s reliance on wood, and climate change killing off thousands of trees across the globe. The garment acts as a futuristic device that protects humans from the rising carbon dioxide levels that they have caused. As the forests continue to perish, the atmosphere will lose the filtration function of the forests that help keep the greenhouse gas levels low. The garment is created from air filters, oil filters, mesh filters, etcetera to illustrate the importance of the forests and the futuristic need for a supplement device to keep the atmosphere clean. I strive to describe the harm of deforestation and the toxic atmosphere levels that are continuously creating an incompatible environment for many species. 

Closeted Anecdotes

recycled clothing, embroidery thread, wood, hangers

1 of 4 girls in the United States experience sexual assault before the age of 18. Women from around the world shared their experiences with sexual violence and I embroidered their truths upon undergarments and invited the public to read. The clothing items are hung on a closet rack to bring a private place into the public. While sifting through the garments, the process is built to resemble turning pages in a book. My goal for the project is to bring memories into physical space to be seen, believed, and respected. Visit Sharing Stories to learn more about the project and/or to participate.

Absorption

sponges, wood, artificial sinew

3’ x 10’ x 2”

Negative energy is present all around us. I wanted to create a barrier, a shield, and a mechanism for absorbing the negative energy around me.

Game of Chance

plastic, acrylic paint, and wood

2’ x 2’ x 2’

The six sides of the pair of dice illustrates apes expressing different emotions including: happy, sad, pain, anger, calm, and excited. The dice are cast from plastic to create a functional pair of dice to play with.