M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition

Master of Fine Arts Show, 1995 at Claremont Graduate University. This show was the culmination of experiences from graduate school including visits to the Weird Thrift Store and hikes up the creek trail at Mt. Baldy looking for blue (lapis lazuli) rocks. The bags are hand sewn from new and found materials; and painted with acrylic and/or wax. Many of the bags have hidden objects sewn into them, transforming them into a kind of mojo bag. Most bags were suspended from ropes and pulleys, and tied off with knots. My art is meant to be a passage from the tangible world into the realm of abstraction. When the conventional becomes unconventional there is more time allowed for the senses to sense and the mind to perceive. The unconscious is given time to talk to the conscious. Forgotten experiences may be vaguely remembered and recombined with the present to make a new experience. I am grateful to my thesis committee Michael Brewster, Connie Zehr and Kathryn Miller for their support and guidance in producing this show.

Thesis Show 1995, Installation View
Chime 1995, tablecloth, acrylic paint, rope, bells, pulley; 53" x 32" x 27"
Chime 1995, detail
Bedlam 1995 and Book Bag 1995, Installation View
Bedlam 1995, canvas, acrylic paint, waxed rope, recovered camping cot; 35" x 80" x 17"
Bedlam 1995, detail
Chime, Le Chat and Parachute Bag 1995, Installation View
Chute 1995 and Le Chat 1995, Installation View
Chute 1995, recovered parachute, hog rings, wax, rope; 96" x 36" x 36"
Le Chat 1995, paper, thread, rope, pulleys, fishing weight 
(approximately 8" x 7" x 7")
Le Chat 1995, detail
Chute 1995 and Bound Bag 1995, Installation View
Bound Bag 1995, canvas, found objects, rope, wax 
(approximately 8" x 48" x 8")
Bound Bag 1995, detail
Bound Bag 1995 and Book Bag 1995, Installation View
Book Bag 1995 and Blue Bag 1995, Installation View
Blue Bag 1995 and Tent Bag 1995, Installation View
Tent Bag 1995, tent, acrylic paint, wax ropes 
(approximately 30" x 25" x 20")
Tent Bag 1995, tent, acrylic paint, wax ropes 
(approximately 30" x 25" x 20")
Thesis Show 1995, Installation View
Thesis Show 1995, Installation View
Antler Bag 1995 and Chute 1995, Installation View
Antler Bag 1995, canvas, acrylic paint, antlers, thread, rope, pulley 
(approximately 52" x 30" x 30")
Antler Bag 1995, canvas, acrylic paint, antlers, thread, rope, pulley 
(approximately 52" x 30" x 30")
Rock Bag 1995, canvas, rocks, thread, wax, rope, pulley; 9" x 6" x 2"

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