By Artist Ava Bock
On Exhibit: March 20 – May 11, 2023
Location: Blowers Gallery in Ramsey Library
Artist Statement: Perspectives Preserved in Plastic is a record of my various attempts to observe, catalog, and connect with my intangible inner self. As I relive and react to the depth of my lived yet unresolved experiences, being unable to physically see what was going on inside my logical, emotional, and spiritual self provided a problem I felt driven to solve.
Since my mind associates color with emotional responses and texture with physical ones, I started to replicate those moments literally. By working from my strongest and most intense experiences, the pieces created at the beginning of my journey are the most erratic looking with the most saturated colors and sharpest edges.
Beyond color and texture, I use differing levels of opacity to communicate my openness and the level of comfort I have with the topic I’m working through. In this way, I am able to open myself up to a deeper, quieter, and more nuanced place within myself. By layering opaque materials and clear ones, I found the ability to share myself without discomfort.
As time went on, this combination of observed light, color, texture, and transparency began to combine in a way that followed my own natural biorhythm. Meditative patterns started to emerge and intertwine as I began to settle into a more harmonious place of self-knowing.
The entire breadth of this intimate observation is showcased through the uniquely human material of synthetic and bio-synthetic plastics. From my initial exposure to photography, through to the Light and Space movement that inspires my more sculptural and current pieces, my connection and understanding of the versatility of plastic made it the natural choice for this analysis.
Salud y Vida (Health + Life)
