Sometimes I find artists online that make me wonder how on Earth I didn’t know about them already. My boyfriend refers to me as a “Page 5 Googler” as I’m known for my ability to dig into the deep internet to find stuff out…take that as you wish. Today was one of those days when I came across Kristina Lewis.
One might not think that I should have heard that name before but since I work at a company called LEWIS and one of my best friend’s last names is Lewis (who I also lived with) I feel like I know a lot of what goes on with that name online but never have I come across these amazing, AMAZING pieces of art. The above is called, Needle Cushion, and is made of 1000 needles, cotton fabric, sawdust, and silk thread. I don’t even know what to call it, weaving? Sculpture?
I’m posting these as big images because they are big in my world. One of the first people I wrote about here was Tara Donovan, she too uses utilitarian objects like straws and tape in her pieces. These works stir that part of my heart again. The above are copper scourers – like for dishes…wrap your head around that!
Any guess at materials on this one? No, how about embossing tape, drinking straws, vinyl resin, acrylic dowels, and adhesive. This is a huge wall hanging if that wasn’t clear (4.5’x3.5’x1.5′).
I love these little amoeba-like critters, they’re made of plastic sandwich baggies sewn together. I mean how does she think of this stuff? These look like snowflakes and robot vacuums all at once to me!
2,000 pins in one object. As Kristina explains in her artist statement, “I ask, ‘how do these objects or materials grow, now that they have lost their original function?'” Her works are stripping these everyday objects of their role as tools in our life and let them essentially be themselves.
Zippers! I love green!
She calls this, Tape System No. 1 and it’s made of tape and stir straws. I love the colors of her pieces especially in the tape and tubing area and the tape specimens.
In addition to reminding me of Tara Donovan, her pieces also remind me of Amy Eisenfeld Genser a bit too. This piece, System of Recovery, includes first aid tape, which I like is reflected in the work’s title.
Just to end on the coolest note, one of Kristina’s Tape Specimens, complete with magnifying glass.
Tags: 3D, amoeba, material, nature, sculpture