Abstract
Making art is a journey. Like links of a chain, each work leads to the next and so on and so on. This progression can be subtly altered as the artist grows; new techniques, new experiences and changes in personal beliefs all affect the work. Occasionally the next step can be an evolutionary leap. This, I believe, is where one series ends and another begins. Although the new work may be drastically different, it is forever linked to what came before.Through the examination of my own work, I found it more and more necessary to start the story before the beginning. In order to better explain my current body of work, I had to first examine my previous body of work. This thesis outlines the progression of my artwork from the end of undergraduate school to my current body of work. I examine each link in the chain, exploring the changes in process, concept and influence.My most recent body of work examines the wondrous and beautiful occurrences in nature. The experience of these wonders may be dismissed by the casual passerby. I translate these experiences into interactive, multimedia gallery installations that involve the audience as active participants. My creations are nothing more than facsimiles of the real phenomena. Many of Earth's natural wonders are in danger of disappearing. My work brings to light these endangered wonders and describes the difficulty inherent in recreating them as well as the possibility of their extinction.The focus of this thesis is to highlight the transitions from project to project, explaining the changes that take place and to illustrate the profundity of an evolutionary leap in concept, materials, technology and process.
