2013 | VICKI LYNN WILSON

I’m pleased to announce that I am one of 5 Artists In Residence with the GLEAN program operated by Metro, Recology and Cracked Pots from March-August 2013. I will have access to the Waste Transfer Station for 6 months to create a body of work that is 99% gleaned from the dump! A show of the work opens atDISJECTA on August 16th, 2013. Visit the GLEAN BLOG to follow the adventures of all 5 aritsts. Here is a link to a VIDEO about the project. This show will close on September 8th. Here is a link to photos of the entire installation and opening: GLEAN FICKR PICS

MOUNTAIN by Vicki Lynn Wilson

My approach to this project was, from the start, an exploration of material. I knew that the material would be improvisational and I would need to address it through different techniques. I was also interested in what narratives would be created by forming the materials into the human shape.

I began by choosing a universal human pose to repeat, but one -no doubt-influenced by some of my favorite figurative sculptors. The mountain pose in yoga, or Tadasana, was an intuitive choice, based on the understanding I have of that position in my own body. When I take this pose I imagine energy entering my feet from the earth, coursing through my body and leaving through the top of my head. Sometimes I feel energy leave through my hands, as well. The pose represents strength and connectedness to the earth and to all other living things whose feet touch that same ground. The human vessel takes on the material, symbolically, and each figure wears its material like a name-tag, a suit, a personality, a responsibility, a burden.

Many pieces are cast from molds. I instinctively wanted to use molds, and the reason why has slowly occurred to me. Many forms of recycling are dependent on molds. Used materials that can be broken up or melted down are often pressed into molds to form the new product. I appreciate the similarity of all people. The material becomes the differing circumstances of our lives. In addition to the cast figures, some are modeled from inside to out, some are carved and others are constructed from patterns. I find these techniques symbolic of different ways of being and experiencing one’s own self. At times I feel my own armature struggling to support soft, tired muscles; sometimes the skin feels like a shell and what lies within is ethereal but mysteriously supportive.

The round pedestal is constructed from salvaged garden beds and OSB board. The angular white wall which frames the figures, speaks symbolically of a looming, but unseen mountain. At the end of the show this wood will be re-purposed to garden beds, again, in a community garden. Very special thanks to John Larsen and Casey Fitzpatrick.

(Process details)

Veneer – 2013. Brick and cement rubble, cast cement, steel rods. 32.5”h x 11”w x 6”d. SOLD-private collection

Wicky – 2011. Candle wax, yarn, steel rods, and aluminum hardware cloth. 32.5”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Swizzle – 2013. Broken auto glass, epoxy, spray paint. 32.5”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Squirt – 2013. Acrylic Caulking (various brands), expanding foam, steel rods, latex paint, wood, construction adhesive. 32”h x 10”w x 6”d.

Spanish Knockdown – 2013. Carved Styrofoam packaging, wood skewers, and Joint compound (drywall mud). 32.5”h x 10”w x 6”d.

Pyrite – 2013. Broken auto glass, steel rods, epoxy. 33.5”h x 12”w x 6”d.

Princess – 2013. Pattern drafted, hand and machine-sewn mattress bag, thread, marker, cement, chicken wire, aluminum tubing, plaster, pillow stuffing, and children’s plastic jewelry. 32”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Gormley’s Ceiling – 2013. Carved Styrofoam packaging, Joint compound (drywall mud), wood skewers and shellac. 34”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Foundation – 2013. Brick and cement rubble, cast cement, steel rods. 33.5”h x 12”w x 6”d.

First Draft – 2013. Brick and cement rubble, cast plaster, Fix-All, steel rods. 33.5”h x 11”w x 6”d. SOLD-private collection.

Fasces – 2013. Candle wax, grape vine, sticks, coconut fiber, steel rods, and aluminum hardware cloth. 33.5”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Etruscan – 2013. Glass Mosaic tiles, grout, grout colorant, mosquito netting, expanding foam, steel rods, epoxy. 33.5”h x 10.5”w x 6”d. SOLD-private collection.

Dagwood – 2013. Plywood and Construction adhesive (various brands). This piece was made in collaboration with John Larsen. 34.5”h x 9”w x 6”d. SOLD-Collection of Recology, Portland, OR.

Business as Usual – 2013. Cancelled checks, joint compound, mix of pva-based glues, aluminum tubing, chicken wire and anchoring cement, polyurethane. 33”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Big Time – 2013. Cancelled checks, joint compound, mix of pva-based glues, aluminum tubing, chicken wire and anchoring cement, polyurethane. 32.5”h x 11”w x 6”d.

Adaptation – 2013. Cardboard, hot glue, latex paint, cement. 33”h x 11.5”w x 6”d.SOLD-Collection of Cracked Pots, Portland, OR.

A & C Segal – 2013. Glass mosaic tiles, grout, grout colorant, acrylic paint, mosquito netting, expanding foam, steel rods, epoxy. 32.5”h x 10”w x 6”d.

(Installation details)

Succulent Showers – 2013. Foam, Glitter, mixed media. Permanent installation in Dufur Oregon for the WTF Electronic Music & Arts Festival (site specific alteration of the original project here). See more photos of this crazy shindig here. The photos below are by Jesse Rather.

2 Permanent Installations at the Oregon Zoo

As of March 2013, these two installations, by Wilson & Larsen Studio (Vicki Wilson and John Larsen), are permanently installed at the Oregon Zoo. “Ripple Drip” is located in the Cascade Marsh Aviary Exhibit and “Ambient Shore” is located in the African Rainforest Exhibit. The pieces were designed as sister installations at opposite ends of the zoo. They are both located in transitional spaces between the indoor /underwater viewing areas and the outdoor water areas. It was our intention to use a symbol of water and the existing architecture to create a sense of transition. “Ripple Drip” is a cast cement relief. We started by sculpting the design in clay, making a mold and then casting the Cement (which is reinforced with a water jet cut steel armature). The entire piece was then adhered to the existing concrete wall.

“Ambient Shore” was designed to interact with light conditions throughout the year, casting shadows of water rings down the wall. Our original design included a plain wall but the exhibit design changed in the late stages and a bamboo fence was added below. The piece is made of water-jet cut aluminum with a powder coating finish.

Ripple Drip – Digital Design Sketch

Ripple Drip – 2013. Cast cement with steel armature. Approx 10’h x 10’w x 3″d

Ripple Drip – 2013. (Detail) Cast cement with steel armature. Approx 10’h x 10’w x 3″d

Ambient Shore – Digital Design Sketch

Ambient Shore – 2013. Water-jet cut aluminum with powder coating. 12’l x 2’h x 18″w

Ambient Shore – 2013. Water-jet cut aluminum with powder coating. 12’l x 2’h x 18″w
( a rare bonus shadow play photographed by a zoo employee)

Ambient Shore – 2013. (detail) Water-jet cut aluminum with powder coating. 12’l x 2’h x 18″w