Steven J Read, Artist and Curator
MFA Fall 2012
This group of work was completed during my fall semester of 2012 during my time at PSU working towards my MFA in Sculpture.
The Haystack Studies
This is a sellection of work done at the Haystack Mountain School for Arts and Crafts, 2012. The work is also represented in the book, Haystack Studies.
ISBN # 978-1-300-25653-3
Super-vast Series.
The Super-Vast series explores the concept of Super-Vast , it’s relationship to the human scale and the spirituality of thought, nature, and meditation.
MFA Spring 2013
This group of work was completed spring, 2013 of my time at PSU working on my MFA. With this group I am starting to develop my work into different personas.
Stranded Visage, is a perspective drawing of a beached sperm whale using a computer model and blue painters tape. The beached whale is our first interactions that we, as a collective historical whole, have had with whales. Before we took to the water in boats large enough to enter their realm. We have see whales washed up on the beach. It is here, out of desperation and curiosity that we first learned how to use the whale for industry and consumption.
Stranded Visage, is a perspective drawing of a beached sperm whale using a computer model and blue painters tape. The beached whale is our first interactions that we, as a collective historical whole, have had with whales. Before we took to the water in boats large enough to enter their realm. We have see whales washed up on the beach. It is here, out of desperation and curiosity that we first learned how to use the whale for industry and consumption.
Self-referential Pod deals with the whales visual perceptions of themselves as a community. Self-referential Pod is based on research of whale's interactions with each other. As a whole, the human species has had very few interactions with whole pods of whales, and because of this our knowledge of their communities is very limited. What we do know is that they can have strong bonds within their pods, mothers and calves stay close, and there are hierarchies within the group.
Stranded Visage, is a perspective drawing of a beached sperm whale using a computer model and blue painters tape. The beached whale is our first interactions that we, as a collective historical whole, have had with whales. Before we took to the water in boats large enough to enter their realm. We have see whales washed up on the beach. It is here, out of desperation and curiosity that we first learned how to use the whale for industry and consumption.
The Fluidity of the Perception of Whales
The history of our interactions with whales is full of bloodlust, misconception, adventure, political discourse, and sheer awe. Throughout human history, our perceptions of whales have been ever changing, from mythical monster of the deep, washed up salvation on the shore, life sustaining industry, cute animal for saving, and recently again to a mysterious beast of the deep. It’s this cycle that I find the most interesting. Through my work I dive into the worlds of whales and our perceptions of their existence.