Artwork description: A life size recreation of the hammock that hung at my grandparents’ house, made from individual flameworked glass pieces.
Artwork description long: "Held Together by Us" is a life-size recreation of the hammock that hung at my grandparents’ house. Growing up, the hammock was a familiar part of the space. A place to rest, play, talk, and spend time together. Though it was an ordinary household object, it became connected to countless memories and moments shared with my family. The hammock is made from individual flameworked pieces, tied together one by one. The process of creating each component was repetitive and time consuming allowing me to reach a meditative state. This became an important part of constructing the piece, as the repetitive process created a sense of familiarity and connection. Glass works as a holder of memory within this piece. Memories can feel permanent and vivid, yet they are fragile and can change or fade with time. The transparency and delicacy of the glass emphasize this fragility, while the strength of the hammock reflects the lasting impact that people and shared experiences can have on us. Through this hammock, I am preserving more than its physical form. I am preserving a place, a feeling, and the connections associated with it. Each individual piece represents a small moment, while their accumulation creates something larger and stronger. It is a physical representation of how memories are built from the moments we share with others.
Artwork description long: "Held Together by Us" is a life-size recreation of the hammock that hung at my grandparents’ house. Growing up, the hammock was a familiar part of the space. A place to rest, play, talk, and spend time together. Though it was an ordinary household object, it became connected to countless memories and moments shared with my family. The hammock is made from individual flameworked pieces, tied together one by one. The process of creating each component was repetitive and time consuming allowing me to reach a meditative state. This became an important part of constructing the piece, as the repetitive process created a sense of familiarity and connection. Glass works as a holder of memory within this piece. Memories can feel permanent and vivid, yet they are fragile and can change or fade with time. The transparency and delicacy of the glass emphasize this fragility, while the strength of the hammock reflects the lasting impact that people and shared experiences can have on us. Through this hammock, I am preserving more than its physical form. I am preserving a place, a feeling, and the connections associated with it. Each individual piece represents a small moment, while their accumulation creates something larger and stronger. It is a physical representation of how memories are built from the moments we share with others.