Murmuration - White, Gold and Red Installation

“Murmuration” is a clay installation that brings three dimensional birds on the wall. Each bird has a magnet that is glued to the back and allows it to be hung on a steel "canvas" that is one inch thick. The size of 20" x 20" weighs about 15 pounds. It is easily hung with two screws. With this artwork I investigate social relations and intentions. The perfectly geometric shapes embed themselves infinitely, requiring a great level of precision, yet allowing the touch of the artist's hand to remain. Each bird is slip cast and glazed individually, a technique that involves sculpting an original shape, then creating a plaster mold and using liquid clay to pour into the mold and obtain a perfect replica. The shapes are then fired several times to obtain the desired finish. This process allowed me to create lighter sculptural works that can be hung on the wall. Beyond these technical issues, this a tight formation raises questions of individuality versus group responsibility, how the behavior of one can affect the whole. Upon close observation, the viewer will note that each bird flies in a different direction, and that some are smaller, or simply slightly different. Yet from a distance, these nuances are mostly imperceptible, rendering an impression of harmony.