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Jennifer Slavin Harris
Artist Statement
I seek and gather the discarded wood, books, plastic and metal debris that I use as the foundation of my work.
Urban artifacts, as I call them, are objects that reflect the progress and careless freedom challenging today's consumer culture. Accidently lost or deliberately abandoned in the shallow rivers of human (traffic) and social consciousness, these found objects are mostly fragmented and become one-of a-kind after surviving varying lengths of time in nature.
I selectively remove the excess grime, but aim to preserve the warped, scratched, and faded integrity of each artifact in its 'found' state. I spend minutes to months shifting the colors and textures around, but sometimes have to wait until I find that special piece of trash that ties the piece together. Paint and/or graphic imagery are incorporated to greaten the depth, contrast, and theatrical humor.
I piece together new landscapes created from objects that would otherwise decay throughout the streets, sidewalks, parks, lots, and construction zones that connect our urban neighborhoods.
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