In the process of deconstructing wine barrels and repurposing the individual staves into repetitive patterns of sculpture and furniture, I realized that none of the staves are identical. None conform to the same exact curvature or angle when released from the confines of the barrel’s metal rings. The effort to whitewash the pieces was to make them uniform and massage them into a pattern. The tips of the staves reminded me of chess pieces or toy soldiers standing in a row, and led to reflection on global events.
A derogatory term used to describe a minority who has assimilated with western society. The “White washed” person does not necessarily abandon his/her own culture but rather embrace others beside his/her own. Some people take it as a compliment while others take it as an insult.
-- The URBAN DICTIONARY
Outward appearances do not define who we are as individuals, even if fashion and pop-culture are a human adaptation to do so. Everyone tries to be unique, stand out, get noticed. Subscribe to non-conformity. If you look closely enough, we are inherently unique. Yet there are more things tying us together than separating us. We are part of the same tribe, even if society pressures us into identifying people by representational groups. We are all more similar than we appear.
Reclaimed wine barrel staves, repurposed wood cabinet doors, fabric & acrylic paint
30”w X 34”h
2020