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Beforehand I had looked into David Harper’s
biography and got a bit of insight into his work
- the pieces that were on showcase were very
eye-catching and had filled my mind with so many questions
- Animals were the main focus and the materials
that were used to construct them
- The usage of gradients especially the black,
white and blue used to represent the in-between and seeing things in a
different perspective; Liminality (in-between)
Introduction of visit by DMG staff:
- advised everyone to look at the works and try make connections and take in what they were seeing at first glance upon entering the gallery
Works of Art:
(1) Name- "To Remind, or to Warn"
Date- 2012
Medium- Ceramic, polyurethane, felt, paper, cast, acrylic, plastic, enamel, epoxy, pigment, flocking, cow hide, sheep hide, wood
Notes:
- consisted of a white and black wolf raised on two separate platforms
White Wolf: - mounted on a white rock with a taller ceramic foundation than the black wolf sculpture
- white fur with furry long tail pointing downwards
- comes off as more timid
- is surrounded by white urns that hold ashes to symbolize memorializing and remembering
Black Wolf: - its mouth is in an open position as if howling
- it is surrounded by black roses covered in this black plastic so they stay eternal and never wilt
- there is also a grey snake that could possibly represent truth, knowledge or even evil
- seems more aggressive and exudes fear
- symbolic meaning behind black and white
- wolves are well above the ground; assume a high position on authority
- "Alpha" wolf > authority figures
- ceramic bases are lined with felt; individually made ceramic blocks to form the base
- shows the dedication that the artist puts into his craft
- took 2 days to construct the piece
- deliberate lighting to cast shadows to make piece seem to surround the viewers
- there's a sense of realism
(2) Name- "I Tried, I Tried, I Tried"
Date- 2012
Medium- Giclee Print on canvas, cotton embroidery floss
Notes:
- the title relates to history and that the artist created 3 portraits
- printed painting on canvas and meticulously stitched embroidered horse (6 million stitches)
- a reproduction of Napoleon crossing the Alps
- the embroidered horse starts with a black head, rest of body into a grey gradient
- almost makes the horse looks like it is disappering
- stallion connected to glorification and celebration
- Gradient is important to the artist
(3) Name- "A Fear of Unknown Origins (II)"
Date- 2012
Medium- Vitreous china, cobalt mason stain, glaze
Notes:
- masks depicting animal faces; are a child's size of mask
- look like dollar store masks painted in a gradient of light blue to dark blue
- question is what is behind the mask; something cheap to something valuable
- animal masks worn as a tradition in some cultures
- resemblance to mounted deer heads as trophies in rich men's homes
- random assortment of animals
- masking hides identity and what is behind the mask may be the unknown
- stacked in a row like totem pole animal heads
- memorial of animal masks give life and presence
- blue color- reference to sky: day and night
Commentary/ Post-impressions:
- Taxidermy ceramic, video projection, ceramic
- The works held a lot of symbolic meaning and
could be mad reference to
- In regards to the materials there was a lot of
care and craftsmanship that went into using them to create these pieces:
gradient embroidery stitching, ceramics, and other textiles
- When first seeing the pieces I did not realize
the meaning behind them and found that they were a bit hard to grasp
- With the aid of the gallery attendant Erin Peck
I was able to
- Mastered 3 difficult skills: taxidermy, embroidery, ceramic-making
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