Useful objects, particularly those on which the daily business of living and working depends, can function as representational agents that enable us to create meaning from complex events. My work questions the function of contemplative objects and contrasts the creation of art with the ideals and emotions the object was designed to embody: expression, aesthetic practices, and life become entwined. For viewers, the meaning of the work is realized through live action. Art becomes a device for learning as well as teaching, and aesthetic practices become a testing ground for ethics and morals.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Faculty Sponsor: Jerry Monteith