My first reaction to Carson Fox’s art was a hearty smile and a sharp intake of breath – the wash of color and the bold size of the cast resin installations tickled my muse. Delightful, fresh, fun, lighthearted…
Cast resin, glue, pins – size varies, but these tend to be several feet high and wide
Detail of a Fox installation
Installation at the Linda Warren Gallery, Chicago April-May 2008
Upon further exploration of her portfolio, my smile turned to unabashed wonder as I took in the filigree sculptures. Inspired by Victorian hair sculpture and jewelry, which were made with the hair of a deceased loved one and meant to be a loving reminder of the loved one, Fox used wire and artificial hair and broadened the canvas, creating “elaborately crafted tapestries of delicate, hair-thin wire that bring to mind lace work on a large scale.”
My natural inclination is to be interested in objects and themes that have been left out of the history of art, feeling a particular kinship with marginalized “craft” materials, and the popular illustrations and folk art of the Victorian era. Like the Victorians, the fragility and brevity of life terrifies me, and one way I cope with it is to make things; thereby proving my existence through the evidence of my labor.
via Exalted Beauty
Those are amazing. Thank you for a “wow!” moment.