My paintings have focused on bodies at leisure—lounging and exposed in positions of vulnerability—and so imagining a safe space for this activity that is alluring yet without objectification is one of the key components of these painted works. I have been sculpting frames for my paintings to create a protected yet unrestricted embrace surrounding the figures at rest in the paintings. The frames extend this idea into the dimensional world, suggesting a closer connection to lived experience, while at the same time acting as an ornamental reminder that a painting is also a fantasy.

My research for this project was funded in part by a Fellowship from the Long Beach Arts Council and from Mozaik Philanthropy.

Frames:

I am a painter, not a sculptor. In order to make these frames, I enlisted the help of two consultants and artist colleagues, without whose help these projects would not have been possible.

Large Frames:

For the first prototype large frame, I worked with Jill Spector, owner of In Favor Of—a consultancy that works with artists and designers through fabrication and materials sourcing. Jill developed a process using materials that were friendly to a non-sculptor, and executed most of the fabrication of the first frame prototype with my direction. The best part of working with Jill is that she could take my directions and run with them independently, but she also generously took time to teach me the process during several work sessions. This allowed me to have a hand in this first frame and enabled me to be able to continue making frames on my own.

https://www.infavorof.us/

Small Frames:

For the small frames, I consulted with artist, fabricator and educator Emily Blythe Jones to develop a process for making multiples. She guided me through the process of learning new materials so that I could sculpt the frames, and then she took over the mold making and casting to generate the finished frames. Her use of experimental mold making materials that are reusable, non-toxic and all-around better for the environment was an important part of the process and I feel very lucky to have been able to enlist her help with this project.

https://www.emilybjones.com/