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dorothy rissman statement
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| bio statement |
Almost everything around us was at some point perceived as useful, desirable, or highly valued. It often happens, however, that the very items we perceived to be of value eventually become items we no longer need or desire.
During my walks around Seattle, I began to discover beautiful objects that were the discards of others. I saw beautiful pieces from vehicle reflector lights, colored plastic bits, discarded balls, jewelry, clothing, and brightly colored food snack packages scattered everywhere I went. I was struck by their unassuming beauty and inherent appeal.
I started collecting this “trash” without really knowing how I would use it. I stored it in my studio in an orderly fashion and then studied it and thought about the nature of the discarded or lost items. Slowly I began to trust that I would learn from the material and that my artistic instincts would lead to a discovery of how best to use them. Throughout my years as an artist, I have tired quickly of specific materials such as paint, clay, or photographs. The street trash has allowed me the freedom to ramble among many materials until I am able to identify an artistic vision. Each material reveals its own particular strengths and weaknesses that guides my notions about its optimum use.
During this process, I also discovered that the most interesting and satisfying aspect of acquiring this refuse lies in ‘the hunt’. I take great pleasure in the searching, looking, walking, and finding of discarded material. I particularly value my conversations with construction and work crews and other people encountered during my gathering. All of the activities involved in obtaining my urban cast-offs provide me with a context for the materials and ultimate inspiration for their use.
Finding objects that elicit a visceral response has resulted in pieces that embody the tenets I have applied over the past 25 years of creating works that are aesthetically engaging. Each material allows me to blend the materials or to use similar objects alone. Each different, one from the other.
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