Sculpture

A cage of egg-carton chains, slowly ossified with plaster.

Egg cartons, plaster, cheesecloth, plywood. 6' x 4' x 2.5', 2014

White plaster tubes looping across two plywood panels on a wall, tangled with bare chains of egg-carton cups

It began as an open cage of egg-carton cups strung into chains. Plaster was then dripped over it, a little at a time, gradually ossifying it: the weight of each layer warped the shape, and as the plaster set it held that shape solid. On the wall, the plastered forms and the bare chains they grew from sit side by side.

Process

A free-standing open cage made only from chains of egg-carton cups, before any plaster

A bare egg-carton chain running into the end of a plaster-covered tube at the edge of a panel

The cage before plaster, and a chain where the bare cups turn into a plastered limb.

A plaster branch splitting in two, with the egg-carton core showing at its tip

Close-up of plaster folds and drips on a tube and on the panel behind it

The plaster was left as it set, in folds, drips and runs. At some ends the egg-carton core still shows through.

In the studio

The two panels hung on the back wall of a small basement studio under a fluorescent light

Plaster loops on the smaller panel, with bare egg-carton chains hung from wires and clips