A Writer and an Artist

[krystinthorson]

Artist Statement

This is a draft. I still need to edit it, but here it is.

In my work, I am exploring the topic of identity within the home. I am exploring what it means to grow up in a home environment and how much our families affect our lives. What does it mean, for example, when the home base is taken away? How much of that home base will always stay with you, and how much falls away? I am also exploring the concept of loss within the family unit. Not loss in the form of death, but loss in the form of distance. I have grown up in a very beautiful, closely-knit, and strong family, but it is beginning to be disbanded by distance. I am exploring sadness and change that comes with it.

[krystinthorson]

Beeswax! I have been experimenting with melting beeswax the past couple of weeks. Beeswax is amazing. It smells incredible, and its texture is wonderful. I really like playing with different textures in my work. They all say different things. I like beeswax for this project because it is strong and subtle at the same time. Beeswax simply speaks to me, and that is why I am using it. I have begun writing little poems on the bigger sheets of paper and coating them in wax. So far, I really like it. My goal is not for it to be extremely noticeable. My goal is for it to simply be there.

[krystinthorson]

It has been a little while since I have posted, but I have been working and documenting along the way. The first photo is the day when I decided that I am going to go higher with my windows. The second photo is Rodrigo helping me figure out which windows should go where in the final piece. Though I am still working on a couple of the windows (more pictures to come), I am very close to the end, and I am making decisions on how the windows should be placed all together.

[krystinthorson]

Also, more progress on the windows that I am altering!

[krystinthorson]

I know it’s been a little while since I’ve posted, but that is because I actually took a Spring break! The mental and physical rest was good, and this weather has got me working very hard on my project! I started experimenting with my handmade flax paper inside the glass windows. I think they are really beautiful, and I am happy with them so far. I am still playing with how I want them to fall inside the windows, and if I want them draped over the sides, but I will definitely be using the paper inside!

[krystinthorson]

Senior Project Final Proposal

Concept

For this project, I am exploring the meaning behind familial relationships and how they change over time. How much of our identities in younger life are found in the relationships within our families? I am exploring what happens when a strong, central family base is stripped away. What happens to our relationships when we lose (even just physically) the strong base of the home? What does loss look like within the family? And how much of ourselves comes from our family? For this project, I am exploring these questions and these feelings within the home. 

Why

I have grown up in a very strong and connected family, and in my past work, I have explored the concept of identity within the home looking from different angles and perspectives. All of my work in the past has dealt with identity. It is something that is important to us, whether we think about it or not. I explore what affects our identity, and this is very personal to me as it is something that really challenges my way of living and thinking. Identity within the home is important to me as an artist because our identities within the home affect us for the rest of our lives. 

Media

I am using old windows that I found on Craigslist. I am altering them with mixtures of paint, tar, my own text, charcoal, chalk, and paper. 

Timeline

February 26 - Final Proposal due in individual meeting

April 15 - Structural forms of windows decided

April 25 - Windows completed

April 27 - Forms solidified

May 1- Exhibition install

Space Issues

For space, I plan on having two rectangular forms sitting on the floor approximately 2 feet by 3 feet and 4 feet high. I also plan on having  a separate window lying flat on the floor.

Equipment/Technology

The only special equipment I may need is lighting. 

Special Challenges

The window that I place on the floor may very well be a tripping hazard. However, it is large enough that hopefully people will not miss it. Since I am no longer planning on hanging anything, my install should be fairly easy and quick. Altering the windows and writing the text is time-consuming, but I am working on this on a regular basis, so it is not a problem for me to get all of my work finished by the time allotted.

[krystinthorson]

More experimentation and a poem I wrote!

[krystinthorson]

I've started work on the windows. This is just the beginning, but I am excited to keep working on them. The photos here have tar and black paint on them. I will be incorporating text as well!

[krystinthorson]

Yesterday, I spent a long time in the studio playing with my windows. I started altering one of them as well, and I will post about how that went later. I spent a while talking to Tom about my project, and we threw around a lot of ideas and thoughts. We ended up with this beautiful form, and I am really excited about it. I am still playing around with different ideas and forms. I am sure it will change along the way, but right now, this form is giving me a lot of inspiration.

[krystinthorson]

Windows! Last week, I drove out to the boonies in Maryland to pick these awesome, antique windows up. There are nine of them in total. They are absolutely incredible. They are exactly what I am looking for. They're a perfect catalyst for some of my poetry and text for my project. This week, I am going to start to alter them. Some of them I am going to drip tar down like I have been experimenting with on the plexiglas. Others, I am going to experiment with white chalk and charcoal. Looking forward to seeing what happens!!!

[krystinthorson]

Two weeks ago, I was experimenting with roofing tar on plexiglas. I am happy with how they turned out. I may implement this on some of the glass windows that I acquired last week! More on the windows soon!

[krystinthorson]

Just a Writer and an Artist

Well, this is my first blog. Friends of mine have told me to start one for years, but I am finally doing it. I am a writer and an artist. I will be graduating from George Mason University in May of this year with a double major in English and Sculpture. The first few months of this blog will focus on my art, as part of a project for my Senior Thesis for my art degree. However, after that, who knows where this project will go. I care about beautiful art that communicates things that I am struggling with. My work usually has a lot to do with identity and the process of figuring out different parts of my identity. I incorporate my own poetry into much of my sculpture installations. These poems are a way to help me figure out where my heart lies and what form my project should take. I also typically incorporate human hair (mostly my own), tar, and wood in my pieces. I find that these mediums are very beautiful and help communicate my concepts. For the next few months, I am going to post weekly updates of my process for my Senior Thesis. Stay tuned for my first update soon.

Krystin Thorson