Meet the “Ancestral Spaceship” mixed media assemblage sculpture series (2004 – 2017):
The “Ancestral Spaceship” mixed media assemblage sculpture series has 13 pieces in all. I also call them “Mixed Media Conglomerates.” This is a 3D twist on mixed media collage/composite.
These cut-out forms expand on previous subject matter by developing imagery relating to the creation stories and ceremonial/seasonal cycles of my Indigenous ancestors. Each construction represents a different traditional totem-like icon that is common to Indigenous creation stories and ceremonial practices across North, Central and South America. An eight-pointed star, symbol for a new beginning, loosely forms the underlying composition of each piece.
Construction:
These hanging mixed media assemblage sculpture pieces are constructed from found wood. The various surfaces display collaged layers in relief. These layers incorporate an array of original hand-rendered art and reproduced media, including digital formats. In this way, I am taking my 2-dimensional composite art in a new direction by incorporating three-dimensionality within an eight-pointed star, medicine wheel or altar-like format (as opposed to a two-dimensional rectangle or square)…free-form “spaceships” if you will.
The cut out iconic forms bring a new dynamic to my work, which is exciting to me. By using symbolic imagery to resurrect indigenous ideologies, I hope to send a message of interconnectedness with the earth. This is my contribution to an urgent universal dialogue of environmental responsibility.
In the Words of a Past Student:
“I had forgotten about your sculptures that you showed us that one time in class and I had no idea they were a series! I went back to view all of them on your website and I have got to say that they are nothing short of astounding. Art on a three-dimensional surface is so mind-blowing to me in itself, but there is something especially captivating about your work. I don’t think I can choose a favorite because all of them have this quality about them that instantly captures and holds your attention. They really give off a vibe as if they are extraterrestrial and have a presence of their own. I love that you drew inspiration from your heritage and were able to translate that history into something new and expressive.”
-Shemayah Hart
Click the link below for “Celestial Tree” greeting card:
