FINAL PROJECT!: “My Feet Is My Only Carriage”

I displayed my final project in the Cohen studio.  I set up all of my sculpted feet in a circular, interactional circle on a raised surface.  I also placed pictures on the wall to demonstrate how I documented the feet on the line.  The wet sculpture of a pair of feet is just outside of Cohen on the line in order for people to observe the progress of its decomposing.

My Complete Exhibition

Haley Nannig

Recycled Molding Clay

Identity

“My Feet Is My Only Carriage”-Bob Marley

ARTIST STATEMENT:

To express identity through the line I sculpted five sets of feet in different positions.  Because feet have traveled with us throughout life and hold the experiences we have walked through they represent identity.  In addition to the feet representing different identities, when placed in different areas on the line they identify groups.  In different locations the feet are in different groupings, for example outside of Harder I placed a circle of “talking” feet and in the woods I put just one singular pair of feet.

I also installed a wet clay pair of feet as an installation on the line.  With the changing weather and other elements the clay feet will eventually seep into the soil, making them one with the line.  This instillation symbolizes that although physical identity fades and will at one time pass away, one will remain in memory.  As humans, identity is very important and the goal in life is to have our identity remembered.  In my eyes feet are one of the most important features that identify an individual.

A Closer Look

Almost Done: Decomposing Identity

After documenting my sculpted feet in different groups on the line I installed my wet clay sculpture.  I placed the pair of feet behind Cohen where the line lies; with the sculpture being close to the studio people can observe my piece and its progress.  The feet are standing in wet decomposing leaves.  Because the changing weather and different elements the clay will eventually seep into the soil.  The pair of feet will become part of the line.  The deteariorating feet symbolizes that although our physical identity will at some point disappear, our imprint and spiritual identity will live on through memories.  I realized that in life a persons main goal is to create an identity that will be remembered after death.

In the second picture one can see that the feet are already collecting moisture and starting the processes of deterioration.

Working Towards The Final Product

As part of my final project I traveled on the line with my completed feet sculptures.  In different locations I placed them how people would be placed in the specific spots.  For example, in the woods I placed a single pair of feet to symbolize an individual going on a hike or enjoying nature.  Near Harder I placed the feet as if they were a group talking and hanging out with each other.  The different positioned feet as individuals represent identity but by placing them on the line I was able to portray group identity as well.

Adapting to the Environment

I have been waiting for a nice sunny day to document my feet in, but unfortunately the weather has been rainy and cloudy for the last several days.  I was discouraged for a little while but then I thought of a great idea!  I decided that I would make my feet sculptures part of the line.  Because of the final presentation I want to have my five pairs of feet to show but I will be creating feet just for this portion of the project.  I will place a pair of my feet on the line in the rain.  The rain will dissolve the feet and the clay will seep into the ground.  This will symbolize that all identities physically pass away but they carry on in memories.  I guess in life the main goal is to prove your identity in order to be remembered.  Also the feet are becoming one with the soil and the earth, which identifies the earth as a whole.

More Progression

After working on sculpting my different positioned feet I finally finished!  I made five different pairs.  Some have very subtle differences and others are in completely different positions.  It took me many hours to complete all five pairs but I am happy with my final result.

Approaching the deadline of my project I just have a couple more steps to accomplish.  Tomorrow I will be taking pictures of my sculpted feet on the line.  I plan to position them in different groupings according to the location I put them.  This will help show identity of an individual and also demonstrate group identification.

After Working Critique. Addition!

After my working critique I decided to add an aspect to my project.  In addition to creating these different feet with different positions symbolizing identity, I will also be placing the feet in different ways on the line.  I plan to observe peoples feet on the line and their interactions with other feet.  After documenting peoples feet I will place my sculpted feet in the positions that portray how people stand.  For example, outside of Harder I may place my different pairs of feet in a circle conversing with each other, but in a place like the woods I may one place one set of feet.  I want to demonstrate identity through the feet grouping, feet position, and the locations they are placed.

Final Project Progression

I realized that creating my final project idea involved a lot of brainstorming, sketches, and bouncing ideas off of people.  I had a lot of scattered thoughts but I finally arrived with a plan to focus on feet.  As discussed in my previous posts, I feel that feet hold a lot about someones identity and character.

I tried to develop different techniques to express my ideas about feet and their symbolism towards identity.  I decided to sculpt feet out of clay.  So far I have created two pairs of feet.  The position of the feet is very important because that can tell a lot about someones identity.  For example, feet that point towards each other or are pigeon toed seem to reveal an insecurity about a person.  I am going to create five different sets of feet and place them different significant places on the line and document them as well as installing them for my final project.

I also may try to incorporate peoples feet imprints from the line.  I would have people from the line step in a slab of clay and leave their mark or their “identity”.  This would form a more interactional piece within the line.

Before creating my clay feet I was worried that all my ideas about the significance of feet, their importance in culture, their character, and their ability to portray identity would not be obviously in my work.  But after brainstorming for a while I realized that pieces of art do not have to be completely literal and scream out meaning.  It is about the process and ideas behind the artist who creates to art work which is so important.

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These are several pages of sketches and brainstorming towards my final feet project.  Also there are pictures of me working on the feet as well as the feet themselves.