it’s gone.

11×3′ cold pressed steel, copper, glass, & wire.

Rigging and articulation by Leah Loeser.

it’s gone. is first and foremost an exploration of decay, the slow but inexorable march of time, and the acceptance that all things, no matter how sturdy, will eventually decay and fade into memory. The scale of a human spine is exaggerated into a gargantuan size, but the piece itself is exceedingly light and fragile. It is made of steel, a material that is impervious to change in our day-to-day lives, but ultimately fades away all the same. I want people to think about what was, what is, and what will inevitably be lost. 

it’s gone. explores the relationship between something hollow and hallowed, the light-ness erupting from something whose original life has long gone, but which has enough emptiness to fill a space. The piece itself has been accentuated through a thorough rusting process, and the pitted surfaces speak to the inevitability of decay, while the upward arch of the spine feels like a hollow reminder of what has been lost. As lights flow through the holes and ruptures in the spine, dappled patterns dot the ground, giving an eerie ambiance. Even as it falls apart, it is alive.

As the piece has been exhibited, it has lost parts, has rusted further, and the bottoms of the vertebrae have been discolored by soil, patinas, and other reagents. As it continues to be shown, it will slowly decay, until it is laid to rest and buried. May it rot forevermore.

it’s gone. could not have been completed without the help of the following people and organizations. Many thanks to everybody who laid their hands on this spine.

Leah Loeser: Rigging, documentation, tacks on T4 wings

Tao Liu: Sketches

Eli Jacobson & A. Kazal: Documentation

Nate Robinson: Oxy-acetylene & plasma cutter assistance

Kellee Massey: Critique, additional support

Jesse Harding: Critique, additional support

Em Flaire: Fabrication Consulting

E4 Metal Shop: Metal shop work space & steel consulting

Xometry: Precision water jet cutting