A Conversation

Sean Doll

A Conversation, 2007

fabric and wood stools, 12' x 6' x 2'

A Conversation is an idea which presents itself in a simple, abstract form. The piece is reduced to two “head” forms and two stools. The muslin heads are long simple tube forms. They hang to the level of the stools from seemingly far above. The height of the stools place the individuals in a child-like position. However, the deeper beauty of the piece arises when observing others take part in the conversation.

This piece presents many ideas and questions. This abstraction of the head into a thought or idea leaves the viewer to decide what they will take from the piece. The individuals taking part in the conversation are placed in a very intimate closeness yet are very disconnected. This piece raises many questions about human relationships and forms of communication.

O Lord

Sean Doll

O Lord, 2007

thread, fabric, stuffing, cloth

This piece is about the level of comfort that comes with a belief. The bears have no identity; they are pure, simple beings with hopes of something greater. The bears are hand stitched, making me their creator. Their hope of a heaven after death leaves them content but has ultimately taken away their ability to think for themselves. A child plays puppet master over his collection of teddy bears much like a preacher would influence his church congregation. This idea of losing oneself in order to gain a sense of security is of great interest to me. The piece questions every individuals self conflict between actual beliefs and mere hopes.

Was I ever really more than ordinary?

Was I ever really more than ordinary? focuses on the question of what it is about ourselves that makes us exceptional, that helps us to stand out amongst the rest. Using the most basic of construction materials (1/4" plywood) five 5 gallon paint buckets have been recreated almost entirely to specs. Each paint bucket contains a speaker which resonates with inaudible whispers of thoughts, actions, events of a person's life. The buckets lay in a seemingly haphazard arrangement on a pressed particle pallet which has been highly lacquered and sprayed with construction orange underneath.


The work addresses a concern within our culture regarding personal identity, finding oneself and being ok with who we are in the collective we've chosen to embrace. The materials used and objects portrayed allude to mass production: casually tossed away and used objects, things that are left behind or stored away forgotten, but useful and precious in their own right, for their purpose is beneficial to us all. More often than not we tend to forget how significant our presence, and the presence of those around us, is. Subtly, Was I ever really more than ordinary?, invites the viewer to re-examine the obvious, the overlooked and see more in the world around them.

Ava Larkin

Was I ever really more than ordinary?

Plywood, pallet, paint, speakers, audio

46" x 40" x 40"

2007

Life Support

This piece came about by considering the process of respiration. All life in some form or another requires this process to function and survive. As well the idea of breathing in humans is synonymous with being alive. The object itself came to form out of considering several forms of life. Single celled organisms, plant, animal and insect forms were all an influence.


The final piece utilizes fans and timers to simulate the “inhale” and “exhale” of breathing mostly found in mammals. The inflation of plastic “lungs” moves in from the Earth and out to the Air, this was to allow the piece to have a meditative quality. My hope was to create a piece that had a function but not a purpose, breathing for the sake of breathing not living

Chuck Mahley
“Life Support” 2007 Metal, Plastic, Wood, Computer Fans. 10’x 3’ x 1’
WATCH IT BREATHE:
http://copland.udel.edu/~kalron/lifesupportsm.mov