Material Sandwiches

Material Sandwiches

by

Madison LaVallee

In my work, I observe the lived spaces around me, noticing materials that are both visible and beneath the surface, reflecting on personal history and cultural identity as they exist within the domestic sphere. I imagine pulling back a layer and uncovering the unknown materials, closely examining what is there and how the materials are structured.

My sculptures appear as material sandwiches, combining properties of real and imagined space in a layered unit. Choices made within each sculptural combination highlight a sense of unfamiliarity when placed in a new space or context, while still containing recognizable attributes related to its original use. Manipulation of such materials creates an oscillation between de-familiarization and a familiarization.

Elements are extracted from domestic spaces and broken into fragments, then re-presented as composites of information distilled from the original space. The sculptures are installed in conversation with the specific site, paying close attention to architectural details. Through repetition and labor, fragments are assembled, rearranged, and finally re-contextualized in a new form that is both a record of my observations and an abstraction of my environment.

Here are some links from Madison:

Madison's Talk at the library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzDcpG5coE&feature=youtu.be

Frances Stark:  http://www.francesstark.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1999-Architect_and_the_Housewife.pdf

Judith Butler video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7o2LYATDc

Jessica Stockholder: http://jessicastockholder.info/projects/art/

Amanda C. Mathis: http://amandacmathis.com