Unsung Heroes, 2016
Multi-media site specific immersive installation highlighting the role of umbrella species in environmental conservation. Curated by Laura Amussen, part of an exhibition with Annette Couwenberg titled Intricate Observations x2, Silber Gallery at Goucher College, Baltimore MD.
(7) Umbrellas - Inkjet print on banner nylon, umbrella frames, handmade mounts, water, steel and river rocks. Umbrella Dimensions: 52” Diameter, 39” Depth.
(7) Dodecahedrons - Laser-cut acrylic pieces from digital photograph, hand-constructed rhombic dodecahedrons, custom steel wall mounts. Accompanying information and inkjet photograph with each. Dodecahedron Dimensions: 5” x 5” x 5”, photographs: 8” x 10”
Unsung Heroes centers invertebrates and their role as indicator species in water quality assessment.
For this project, I digitally composited underwater photographs from my diving trips and then stitched them into umbrellas or fashioned into dodecahedron (a polyhedron with 12 faces) sculptures. The works are installed all about the gallery, encouraging an immersive experience of looking as gallery attendees move about the space, becoming part of the grouping of pieces which are hung from the ceiling, sprout from the ground, and protrude from the wall.
Unsung Heroes creates a context for humans to think of themselves as an umbrella species because we, as stewards of the earth, have the potential to protect or neglect indicator species like those featured, through our implementation of policy and steering conservation and its effectiveness. All this underscores that through protecting umbrella species, we can protect the other orders that make up an ecological habitat.
Handmade umbrella frames and mounts, inkjet print on banner nylon.
Umbrellas mounted on painted walls and in custom floor platforms containing river rocks and water.
Nudibranchs, Berghia Coerulescen Umbrella. Handmade umbrella frame and mount, inkjet print on banner nylon. 52” diameter, 39” depth
Detail of Nudibranchs, Berghia Coerulescen umbrella
Detail of Peacock Mantis Shrimp umbrella
Peacock Mantis Shrimp Umbrella. Handmade umbrella frame and mount, inkjet print on banner nylon. 52” diameter, 39” depth
3 hanging umbrellas
(7) 5" x 5" x 5" laser cut rhombic dodecahedrons with accompanying informational text about the featured creature and when the image was made.
Essence: Porcelain Crab (Neopetrolisthes maculatus). Inkjet print, text detailing the image capture and information about the species paired with 5" x 5" x5" laser-cut acrylic plexiglass dodecahedron
Detail of Tunicate dodecahedron, 5" x 5" x 5".
