Site Specific/To Have and To Hold-Artist Statement/Research

Artist Statement

I was inspired by the historical photos in the St. Augustine Research Library's collection. I was attracted to photos that depicted people playing banjos and other stringed instruments. The energy in the photos were joyful, whimsical, and playful.

I was especially attracted to a photos of a little boy, barefoot mid-strum, singing out loud. The little boy looked so natural but theatrical at the same time. There were no strings on the instrument which alluded to the theatrics. I was interested in the staging of a joyful moment.

 The only information that appeared on the photos was a small blurb at the bottom that said "Way down upon the Suwabbee River". I interpreted this writing to refer to the Suwanee river.

 Another photo that I found depicted two young girls in dresses. The bottom hem of their dresses are clipped to their wrists. This image reminded me of wings.

 The last photograph that inspired me was an image that I interpret to be based off the cherub detail in Sistine Madonna painted by Raphael.

 All these elements; the fairy and cherub like imagery, the musical instruments, and the river, all came together and inspired me to make miniature instruments out of mossy twigs, human hair painted to look like gold wire, and other little natural found things including baby teeth. Coming from a large, hairy, and musical family, my childhood memories are often intertwined with music. These photos resonated with me on that level. The teeth signify childhood. Hair is spiritual to me and making it into gold wire was a way for me to highlight it.