“Listen or Your Tongue Will Make You Deaf”

A proverb used as title, as translated by The Cherokee Nation, 2024, 60” x 96” x 4”, Slip cast and press molded ceramic, resin and mixed media

I came across this proverb over 2 years ago and felt it captured this country’s moment in history. Observing our behavior, its obvious to me that we have lost a link with our own human nature and nature itself. Are we listening to each other? …to ourselves?…to what nature is telling us? …or is nature listening to us?

My sculptural mural takes form from the controversial 2020 census and the demographics revealed. Each color is a reflection of the race it represents. Creating 206 parts, I proportioned the census data to visually show who we are as a nation:  57.8% White, 12.4% Blacks, 18.9% Hispanics, 6.3% Asians and 2% Native and Islander Nations. I have taken license to exaggerate some colors to capture an essence of race and omitted other colors to reflect those left out of the census itself.

Each part was generated from a single sculpted original carved in stone. That original was then molded multiple times to slip cast ceramic or resin. Liquid clay slip was used to pour into 5 part rigid plaster molds, as well as press molded using small slabs of moist clay. These different types of clay were then dried over several weeks, glazed and fired in an oxidation kiln. Transparent 2-part polyester resin was mixed, tinted, poured and cured in flexible platinum silicone molds over a 24 hour period. Each of the mural parts are unique and one-of-a-kind. The transformation of this form into different materials, colors and qualities- each originating from the same original source- serves as metaphor for human’s evolving from the same source. 

This artwork was made to premiere during the 2024 series of 10th anniversary exhibitions of Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver in honor of this accomplished gallery and vision of owners, Mike McClung and Warren Campbell.