Salt water taffy

Includes bibliographical references (leaf 7)The project Salt Water Taffy is an installation that combines ceramic, rubber, hair and other material. The installation utilizes the floor, walls and ceiling of the gallery. The work is a creation of an environment for the viewers to walk around and engage with physically. It appears as if one is underwater. The forms are familiar but the viewers are still kept pondering what it is they are truly seeing. Salt Water Taffy was created to visually attract and spark an interest in nature. The title, Salt Water Taffy, refers to the salt and water that compose the ocean, taffy refers to the fun and edible like colors used on some forms. Through out my childhood taffy candy was my favorite treat to eat, because it was stretchable, sweet, and came in a variety of colors and flavors. I began the work by looking at sea animal photographs, marine biology illustrations, Installation artists and immersing my self in ocean and art related books. Using a combination of techniques, such as the repetitive task of coiling, folding, and stacking I gain an understanding and appreciation for clay greater then the common associations and intended function. Clay is appealing to me because of its direct connection to the earth. Using clay I began to create forms that deepen my appreciation for the environment through the tactile experience. I fabricated forms that were finished with rich matt or glossy colors and textured surfaces. The individual pieces became hybrids of creatures I'd seen in photographs, dreams, and my imagination