Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts in Art (MFA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Art

Advisor/Mentor

Springer, Bethany L.

Committee Member

Edwards, Vincent A.

Second Committee Member

Joseph, Qwist

Third Committee Member

Posnak, Adam

Fourth Committee Member

Young, Chase

Keywords

Archive; Bronze; Ceramics; Fine Art; Installation; Sculpture

Abstract

A Living House Never Stands Still is an exhibition that explores the interplay between place, memory, and the suspension of time through diverse mediums and materials. I engage with seemingly mundane objects, interpreting them through a non-linear, dream-like, and irrational framework to unearth latent connections across time–past, present, and future. Central to these explorations is the concept of home—not merely as a physical location, but as an evolving entity. Home is a sacred space for me.

My recent studio reflections are focused on the lifecycle of objects, the emotional responses they evoke, and how these cycles emulate the human body and condition. Every object has a life cycle; an object starts as new, serves its purpose, deteriorates, and eventually becomes obsolete or is discarded. And yet, the value which we place on objects often transcends practicality, floating somewhere in the murky waters of sentimentality. I question how an object’s value begins to shift once it confronts its fate of being discarded: does it lose significance, or does its absence intensify its desirability? This inquiry parallels the relationships we have with our own bodies, the bodies of others: both objects and bodies share a journey from presence to absence, resonating with memories and emotional experiences.

My artistic practice is a continuous dialogue between the physical and emotional landscapes of our lives. Through the lens of home, memory, and the exploration of objects, I seek to capture and preserve the essence of these experiences. By reinterpreting everyday artifacts, I aim to illuminate the connections between our personal histories and the objects that shape them, celebrating the ways in which care, nostalgia, and sentimentality intertwine.

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