-Americano is my current series of work based on specific modified found objects
“The Lingering Storm”, “New Deal”, "Obamanos”, reflect the hope of a new president and the reality of the struggles Americans are enduring. The series follows the changes taking place in America due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the stock-market slump, and the dramatic increases in foreclosures, unemployment and government bailouts. In this satirical series my primary focus is to intertwine complex political issues with the working class. Symbols incorporated include Uncle Sam, The Stock Market Grid, and the financial debacle. In the creation of these sculptures I call upon language conveyed by traditional compositions, such as a triangle pointing toward the heavens. I aesthetically aim for elegance and symmetry by embracing the methodical placement of my subject, referencing the classism of the realist movement. I selected materials that are commonly used in the service industry; the Caution signs reflect physical safety in the workplace and symbolize the dynamics between white- and blue-collar workers. Selected working-class media include concrete, chewing gum, sod, and burlap. In “New Deal”, my use of fabric echoes the lives of America’s blue-collar workforce. The use of fabric can be read by the weight distribution of camouflage and blue linen; the war weighs heavily on America’s working class.
