Held

2022
Stoneware
200cm x 200cm x 46cm

Continuing with themes of identity and memory, this in-progress project explores those memories that are without tangible images; memories that are based more on emotion than on places, people, or objects. Does the act of transmuting a feeling into a physical form alter ones relationship to it?

Process

The scale and delicacy of this piece required a considerable amount of time to be invested in support structures and secondary components. Adding to the complexity was a desire to construct the piece in a modular fashion so that it can be more easily transported, and also altered in its assembly.

While the initial goal was to construct a singular boat structure, I ended up making two, switching to a stronger clay body for the second, while streamlining the construction process from the lessons learned on the first iteration.

“It feels like Smith wanted to solidify a dream-like memory to give it a place and form. The fact is that we only can guess what the true nature of her vessel is, but she activates us with her work to think about our own world of thought, to experience our feelings and memories, and how we give them a place in our lives.” -Jonas Vansteenkiste (read full article here)

This project would not have been possible without the support and knowledge of the staff and fellow artists at EKWC. Thank you all so much!

I also acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and ArtsNL, who made this residency possible.