Betty Scarpino
Material Memory
2023
cast paper pulp, sawdust from Phil Brown's shop vac, ink
Bowl blank: 10" x 13" x 6" Paper: 7" x 6.1875" x 2.5625"
Artist Statement
I cherish several enduring memory-moments from the 2016 Windgate ITE residency; one is Phil Brown’s engaging smile and infectious enthusiasm while he showed us pieces from his collection. So, when Barbara asked if I would participate in this project, I eagerly said “yes!”
Then COVID happened, as well as a few personal medical issues, and I didn’t feel up to accomplishing my original idea, which was to deconstruct Phil’s rough-turned vessel and reimagine it into a sculpture. Instead, I decided to make a paper casting.
Channeling an ITE mindset, I delved into papermaking with the intention of casting Phil’s entire vessel form. Several creative missteps later, and with only minimum pulp left in the initial batch, I achieved success. As a partial cast of Phil’s graceful vessel form, it speaks to my initial concept of deconstruction, while at the same time embodying a fragment of memory.
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