Life-Sized Figure

Clay, steel, wood, styrofoam, wire
Stage One: Build a sculpture of a nude female figure by cutting, bending, and welding a steel armature to proportion, adding on wood and styrofoam for support, and detailing her with clay

Stage Two: Transport her home, plant wildflower seeds, and grow biomass

Stage Three: Deterioration

Stage One: Build a sculpture of a nude female figure by cutting, bending, and welding a steel armature to proportion, adding on wood and styrofoam for support, and detailing her with clay

Stage Two: Transport her home, plant wildflower seeds, and grow biomass

Stage Three: Deterioration

This project was carried out from January to August 2013. The first stage was developed in Lou Marinaro's class at the University of Michigan, and the form was referenced from a wonderful live model. At the end of this class, everyones' sculptures are usually photographed and immediately destroyed. But my emotional attachment urged me to prolong this project, and I'm thankful that I did. The mold, mushrooms, and sprouts that emerged were funny and life-affirming. Being hands-on with her slow deterioration was gorgeously tragic. I truly enjoyed every moment.

So much gratitude and appreciation is owed to my parents for enabling each stage of this project. Her remains are currently still located in their backyard.

The following three photos were taken by my dad, and the last was taken by me. Before his passing in 2017, my dad enjoyed dressing up my sculpture and sending me photos while I was back at school. I took the last photo just this past summer, and it feels like he had a part to play in that decor, too.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand on my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die."

Mary Elizabeth Frye