The Wrapping Set Series was inspired by a trip that I took to Japan in 2005 with my mother. It was during the Christmas season, and in Japan the art of wrapping as well as the act of gift giving is masterful. I was inspired by the care that was taken in wrapping a candy, a person, and a package. I also noticed the attention given to giving and how it could be a part of your everyday life.
These works are in serial sets or “families”. In my studio, I was interested to see if I could get the pieces to hold together like characters in a strange language or a series of musical notes. I also wondered if I could get one to separate out just a bit, like an individual thinking different thoughts in a family.
I was interested in bringing the actions of tending and caring into my life through wrapping these small pieces. In doing so thoughts floated through my head. What does it mean to give and to receive? What does it mean to fit in or be different in a crowd? Can one care too much for a person or not enough for a place? This work is a personal search around issues of care, attention, gift giving, and individuation.
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