After seeing my work at OCADU's Graduate Exhibition, I was asked to be a part of a two week festival (also to be one of the featured artist's for Industry Professional night) entitled Blackoutfest. The festival will occur once every year in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario. 

An art gathering that encompasses all forms of art; painting, music, drawing, sculpture and installation, poetry, printmaking, theatre/film and material arts (just to name a few). I have never been a part of anything like this before, so naturally, at first I was apprehensive, but once ideas started to flow, I could not wait to start making something. 

My thesis work at OCAD University discussed the issues in coral reef deterioration, specifically the Great Barrier Reef's of Australia. Still being very compassionate about our underwater gardens, I thought I would continue with the concept of synthetics. The idea of engineering artificial life to fix our mistakes and to prevent coral reef systems from extinction.

What kept this festival cohesive was that everyone had to explore a question. Mine was, should we intervene? 

Should we create and integrate?


Artist Statement: 

Decayed coral reefs are the actions of human neglect. Paralyzed by the thought of loosing our submerged world, we are desperately trying to mend our ill oceanic gardens by injecting a synthetic heartbeat to revive a once aquatic eden. But will our actions be invasive and place a permanent flatline to our coral reefs, or will it aid in it's survival?

The materials used in this installation entitled, Vacancy, reflect the concept of marrying inorganic materials into an organic environment. Recycled polymer based materials form the foundation of this sculpture that supports the notion of human interaction and how our behavior, as noble as our intentions may be, can never truly be natural. 

Vacancy Recycled Polymer, Sand, Blacklight, 4'X6', 2012

Detail of Vacancy

Detail of Vacancy

The pamphlet/catalogue showcasing all the artists involved in this two week festival.

(Crappy iphoto pic) but..there I am!

Concluding: I am pleased with the results of my installation, but more importantly the show in its entirety. I met some amazing artist's who I am currently working on collaborations with, and to everyone who came, made this an experience I will never forget. 

Looking forward to next year!

Blacksheep OCAD U Printmaking Thesis Exhibition

Amazing night. Thank you to those who were able to make it down and share this wicked night with the OCAD U print kids. 

Thesis Show!

 

Working together with Aaron again at studio 561. As a group, we decided to go with Studio 561, not only because Aaron is awesome, but also because it is a great space, and will accommodate the 17 of us in thesis. 

Can't wait until April!

Love

 

Micro-awesomeness

Last Mold

 

Almost there! 

Organisms

 These are 4 sculpted, fictionalized, organisms out of wax - outlining the 4 stages of development, that this 'organism' endures before becoming an adult.

 

1st Stage

 2nd, 3rd Stage (Adolescence)

 4th Stage (Adult)

 Close up of adult (4th) stage.

 Display: This is how they will appear when they have been cast in Dragon Skin (and glow blue)!

Upon completion of the sculptures, molds were the next step in this process, so then I can proceed with the castings. Thanks to Kayla, a sculpture and installation major at OCAD U for her guidance and assistance with this!

 1. Build a wall of clay (prevents the silicone from running... everywhere, as it is extremely runny).

Me constructing the wall of clay

 Again...

 And again. This process has to be completed for each sculpture, each with there own board. 

 Complete!

 Kayla helping me blow out all the clay debris to ensure a great mold.

 Silicone mixed, and in the vacuum, (it's purpose is to be rid of any air bubbles)

 Applying the Silicone!

 

It is beginning to set. (This process took about 45 minutes - reason: If you simply pour it on, good old gravity will push the silicone around the form, oppose to on it).

A few days later... Completed silicone mold, now to plaster and make what is called the mother shell.

Relief (Lino) Destruction

 Getting ready to print, by prepping my ink and roller. 

 The press is set and ready to be abused (nicely)

 First pull of the relief linoblock print. I was content but not impressed. So I decided to switch the method of printing - instead of a relief based pressed, I switched to an intaglio press.

 

Lee being camera shy in the Intaglio studio (that, or he secretly hates me)

 Lee and Krystina chilling in the Intaglio studio. 

 

Lino block ready to be printed

 I thought I would do a varied addition (color). So some where reddish purple. red-purple and tint base (split fountain) and some proofs in black.

Close up of print

Process - Organisms

Here are some process shots of a lithography stone ready to print. I have etched it twice in hopes of good print run. As far as the content on the stone, these are some preliminary ideas for a fictionalized organism, which will be considered for my final image for thesis.