Each of these wall-hung works frames the empty space behind it. The layers are composed of outlines from anonymous tourist photos of Hopewell and Adena mounds in Ohio. To produce the 10-object series, multilayer digital CNC carvings from vector-based illustrations were glued together, then hand-planed and sanded, with the back, wall-facing, side of the artwork sealed with fluorescent paint.
Whereas most Hopewell Enclosures are produced with layers of specific types of soil, some also use
mica and other minerals in between layers, and many charnel houses within their boundaries have
evidence of precisely spaced-out wooden post holes. Layers of material and precise geometric forms also characterize my sculptures, which involve cutting, stacking, and laminating layers of various types of wood (found hardwoods, pine, maple plywood, etc., depending on the project).
The dimensions of these artworks specifically reference and recreate the ancient Hopewell unit of measure, which has been estimated as the average male arm span from shoulder joint to digital metacarpals at the time (25.3″). By employing an actual unit of measure present in the sites, I aim to engage with ideas of physical presence as well as representation.
Mound Frames n. 01, 04, and 06, 2023, 25.25″ x 25.25″ x 1.375,” plywood with polyurethane varnish, rear fluorescent paint. 10 artworks total with no repeating line traces. Can be shown individually or in groups.