This work is from The Carissa Mine project, based in research of and response to an historic gold mine located in South Pass City, a State Historic Site in south-central Wyoming. During multiple residencies in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 I was part of a 3-person artistic team that also includes photographer Susan Moldenhauer and dancer/choreographer Margaret Wilson. We were given full access to the Carissa Gold Mine to engage with its history and create art from our experiences that capture the nuances of years of tactile use and abandonment, and bring fresh perspective to the rich history of the site.
Rhythm and resilience. These are words that came to mind when I considered the mining and milling processes undertaken by men and machines in the Carissa. I combined materials – reclaimed, found, new, and altered – to create these images which serve as metaphors for the amazing and overwhelming compilation of items that the miners collected, kept on hand and left behind, which ensured continuation of the steady heartbeat of the mine and mill. Like the miners, I twisted and cut metal, organized materials, and utilized what was on hand and found, not to mimic, but to better understand the challenges they faced every day in this isolated location as they carved out an existence based in hope, perseverance and routine.
Filtered, 2018, muslin, burlap, wood, pumice, iron, gold leaf, acrylic, 30 x 20 inches
Juxtapositions, 2018, wood, tin, found objects, acrylic, 48 x 48 inches
Float, 2018, wood, iron, sand, pumice, acrylic, 30 x 30 inches
Coiled, 2018, cable, tubing, wire, tin, wood acrylic, 30 x 30 inches
Rattle and Roll, 2018, paper, tin, gravel & sand, burlap, acrylic, wood panel, 20 x 30 inches
Treasures, 2018, reclaimed wood, found objects, graphite,12 x 48 x 4 inches
Storied, 2018, wood, tin, newsprint, cardboard, canvas, insulation, found objects, graphite, acrylic, 48 x 48 inches
Remnants 1, 2018, wood, sand, gravel, found objects, acrylic, 10 x 10 inches
Remnants 2, 2018, wood, burlap, linen, found objects, acrylic, 10 x 10 inches
Remnants 3, 2018, wood, found objects, 10 x 10 inches
Remnants 4, 2018, wood, canvas, found objects, acrylic, 10 x 10 inches
Remnants 5, 2018, wood, burlap, found objects, sisal, acrylic, 10 x 10 inches
Instrumental, 2018, reclaimed wood, tin, canvas, rope, air dry clay, acrylic, 30 x 30 inches
Construct, 2018, reclaimed wood, found objects, graphite, 14 x 21 x 8 inches
Syncopation, 2018, wood, iron, burlap, insulation, acrylic, 20 x 30 inches
Carissa’s Song, 2018, wood, metal, linen, burlap, paper, wire, acrylic, 20 x 60 inches
Holdin’ It Together, 2018, metal, wood, burlap, acrylic, sand, found object, 10 x 20 inches
Multi-tool, 2019, graphite, acrylic, wood, metal 12 x 16 inches
Power Tool, 2019, graphite, acrylic, wood, metal, 8 x 16 inches
One + Spare, 2019, graphite, acrylic, wood, metal, 12 x 16 inches
Time Passage, 2019, reclaimed wood, burlap, hand-cast paper, cement, charcoal, found metal, 24 x 48 inches