Untitled (nails)
2010
Site-specific installation
Porcelain, glaze
10'h X 17'w X 1/2"d (entire installation)
1/8"h X 1/8"w X 1 3/4'd (one nail)
Behind and surrounding every piece of artwork there are many objects and materials that make their display possible. These unsung objects contribute to our ability to see art and prop up our notion that some things are art and the rest is not. I rendered nails using porcelain, a precious art material, to give the nails a chance to be what they uphold. When shown, the nails are inserted into holes left from the previous exhibition. In which case they also act as recording devices implicating the ever-changing context of the exhibition venue as part of what influences our definition of art. Installed in the Mills Museum in 2010.