BFA Thesis Exhibit

Claire Stephenson

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Artist Statement

I explore surrealism, childhood trauma, dreams, mental health, relationships with others and memories from my past having to do with the body through sculpture, installation and painting.  I use a wide variety of materials and processes with multiple layers, physically or figuratively which in turn create narratives with ever evolving ephemeral qualities and endings.  Once in the world as a physical object or installation, it is no longer a troubling thought but a memory, something one can talk about further. I use a wide variety of found or handmade materials or materials from my own body; including glass, jeans, egg shells, my own hair freshly cut, receipts, pulled teeth, gelatin as some examples. The process is equally important as the materials involved. A variety of processes allow me to experiment, problem solve, and conclude successful work in terms of its own narrative.  I am a messy maker of products and ideas. I use my hands, make my own tools, and ask others to collaborate along the way. Ephemeral qualities make appearances in my work, and the change over time to make a piece which is constantly evolving, changes its meaning time after time. Change is the process as the final product pairs with the narrative of mental health as stages in my life have new beginnings and endings at every turn around the corner.
Hard and soft gelatin sheets colored like bruises and memory foam that is cut into strips hung together with wire and string in a cocoon shaped form barely touching the ground and hung by a single line of twine weighing about 60lbs, tightly wrapped with naturally dyed yarn around and around again in some spots making it hard to see the layer underneath. Click to view Hard and soft gelatin sheets colored like bruises and memory foam that is cut into strips hung together with wire and string in a cocoon shaped form barely touching the ground and hung by a single line of twine weighing about 60lbs, tightly wrapped with naturally dyed yarn around and around again in some spots making it hard to see the layer underneath. Full-Screen

my memory is not your memory // Gelatin, natural dye, found fabric, gesso, memory foam, twine, wire, naturally dyed yarn, human hair, dead flies, sweat, and tears // 5 x 3 feet

Ethan, the performer is holding rope tied together in one hand and chain in the other swinging them about, hitting the ground forcefully with a rock and some more rope tied to the other end of the rope he is already holding, performing on top of the black glass abrasive. Click to view Ethan, the performer is holding rope tied together in one hand and chain in the other swinging them about, hitting the ground forcefully with a rock and some more rope tied to the other end of the rope he is already holding, performing on top of the black glass abrasive. Full-Screen

A Love Language Not Reciprocated I // Chain, rocks, cotton rope, black glass abrasive, playful yet abruptly aggressive and explorative performer // Performed by Ethan Samaha // Dimensions vary

A film still picturing a large 8x10 foot canvas sprawled on the gallery floor after being dragged around in a disordered path for 4 minutes with dirt from Alfred and earthenware chunks and chia seeds dispersed on top after being sprinkled with some recycled rain water for potential growth. There is dirt near the windows across the room and my dissociated self is standing on the opposite side staring at the chia seeds for an undisclosed amount of time. Click to view A film still picturing a large 8x10 foot canvas sprawled on the gallery floor after being dragged around in a disordered path for 4 minutes with dirt from Alfred and earthenware chunks and chia seeds dispersed on top after being sprinkled with some recycled rain water for potential growth. There is dirt near the windows across the room and my dissociated self is standing on the opposite side staring at the chia seeds for an undisclosed amount of time. Full-Screen

protection pact; healing continues (film still from a private performance) // Dirt from his lawn, dirt from his side yard, dirt from his window sill flower planters, dirt from his garden bed, recycled earthenware wedged with the garden bed dirt, chia seeds grown in limited artificial light, chia seeds grown in full sunlight with plant food added once a week for 3 weeks, recycled rain water, torn cotton canvas, sweat, tears, black dress, self, the dissociated self, time, shadowed self, private performance 
The video was projected in a loop on a white gallery wall with the original dirt used in the performance placed below but dustier and more dry // Dimensions vary

Black glass abrasive is on the ground, a lumpy rolled form made of wood shavings wrapped in plastic sheeting about 4.5ft is curved in a slight crescent shape on the ground pushed towards the center of the gallery space away from the splash on the wall. There is a red watery liquid on the ground and splattered on the wall as high as 6 feet. Below the splatter there are about 8 smaller rock pieces and dents in the gallery wall above and around the splatter. Click to view Black glass abrasive is on the ground, a lumpy rolled form made of wood shavings wrapped in plastic sheeting about 4.5ft is curved in a slight crescent shape on the ground pushed towards the center of the gallery space away from the splash on the wall. There is a red watery liquid on the ground and splattered on the wall as high as 6 feet. Below the splatter there are about 8 smaller rock pieces and dents in the gallery wall above and around the splatter. Full-Screen

A Love Language Not Reciprocated II //Chain, rocks, cotton rope, black glass abrasive, natural dye made with bugs blood and coffee and the roses you gave me when I was 9 years old for 3 consecutive weeks to stay quiet, plastic sheeting, wood shavings from the chair you sat in after like it was no big deal, gelatin // Dimensions vary

A canvas about 6feet x 8feet painted neon green on one side and painted with white gesso on the other side. It is cut to shape resembling a soft splatter is hung by 4 of its fins while half of it slouches on the ground. The 4 fins are hung up by charcoal covered rope, knotted to create tassels to fit a hand or two through them. The entire floor is caked in black powdered charcoal. The piece is meant to be interactive so there are footprints left in the charcoal on the ground. Click to view A canvas about 6feet x 8feet painted neon green on one side and painted with white gesso on the other side. It is cut to shape resembling a soft splatter is hung by 4 of its fins while half of it slouches on the ground. The 4 fins are hung up by charcoal covered rope, knotted to create tassels to fit a hand or two through them. The entire floor is caked in black powdered charcoal. The piece is meant to be interactive so there are footprints left in the charcoal on the ground. Full-Screen

s p l a t ! // Powdered charcoal, rope, canvas, gesso, neon green acrylic paint, gravity, interaction // Dimensions vary

A colorfully painted cardboard collage representing an abstract garden is hung on the wall. There are pieces of canvas shaped like leaves, stems and grass covered in green silicone and are textured in various ways at the bottom of the wall piece. There is a white pellon soft structure rounded fence measuring 2.5 x 2.5 ft in front of the wall about 3.5ft from the painting. A line of white pellon in a fence motif again hangs above and falls down and out on the left side of the wall piece. There is pink-purple yarn attached and streams down from the right side of the wall piece and piles on top of each other as it reaches the ground. Click to view A colorfully painted cardboard collage representing an abstract garden is hung on the wall. There are pieces of canvas shaped like leaves, stems and grass covered in green silicone and are textured in various ways at the bottom of the wall piece. There is a white pellon soft structure rounded fence measuring 2.5 x 2.5 ft in front of the wall about 3.5ft from the painting. A line of white pellon in a fence motif again hangs above and falls down and out on the left side of the wall piece. There is pink-purple yarn attached and streams down from the right side of the wall piece and piles on top of each other as it reaches the ground. Full-Screen

overgrown in the backyard of a highland lakes mansion // Cardboard, recycled brownie boxes, recycled cake mix boxes, recycled paper cookie bags, recycled tissue boxes, canvas, felt, yarn, tissue paper, acrylic, caulk // 5.5 x 7.5 x 9 feet

A collage of various different natural and synthetic fabrics naturally dyed if the fabric allows, dyeing them to be green, red, pink, purple, indigo, yellow, and orange pinned to the gallery wall or draping over each other or the pole form wrapped in purple yarn on the left side creating movement and a skyscape of color using references found in the home from clothesline, to perfectly organized closets to traditional dining room table cloths. Click to view A collage of various different natural and synthetic fabrics naturally dyed if the fabric allows, dyeing them to be green, red, pink, purple, indigo, yellow, and orange pinned to the gallery wall or draping over each other or the pole form wrapped in purple yarn on the left side creating movement and a skyscape of color using references found in the home from clothesline, to perfectly organized closets to traditional dining room table cloths. Full-Screen

color field // Wool, silk, cotton, and synthetics, naturally dyed with plants from western NY and central Ohio, cardboard, tacks // 9.5 x 7 x 3 feet

A very long runway created entirely of thread and recycled jean pant legs with a figure at the end dressed in a black dress and black socks walking a stereotypical runway model walk. Click to view A very long runway created entirely of thread and recycled jean pant legs with a figure at the end dressed in a black dress and black socks walking a stereotypical runway model walk. Full-Screen

runway potential // Recycled jean pant legs, self, black outfit, runway model walk // 2.75 x 18 feet

3 large sheets of naturally cured gelatin and 1 smaller sheet hang from chains in front of a window with a pile of gelatin skins on the ground below it all adorned with the red coloring made up of silicone and red iron oxide to enhance the holes in the sheets that look like cuts and the chain is rubbed with that mixture as well. Click to view 3 large sheets of naturally cured gelatin and 1 smaller sheet hang from chains in front of a window with a pile of gelatin skins on the ground below it all adorned with the red coloring made up of silicone and red iron oxide to enhance the holes in the sheets that look like cuts and the chain is rubbed with that mixture as well. Full-Screen

glimmering in ferocity // Gelatin, silicone, red iron oxide, chalk, chain // Dimensions vary

A close up of a thin sheet of gelatin cured to a natural form as it isn't perfectly flat, with red, brown, and yellow coloring dispersed about it highlighting the parts that look like cuts. A chain caked in the red coloring hangs in front of it to the left side of the image. Click to view A close up of a thin sheet of gelatin cured to a natural form as it isn't perfectly flat, with red, brown, and yellow coloring dispersed about it highlighting the parts that look like cuts. A chain caked in the red coloring hangs in front of it to the left side of the image. Full-Screen

close-up of glimmering in ferocity // Gelatin, silicone, red iron oxide, chalk, chain