Trailer Park
And Other works By Todd Payne
Since Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in 2005, tens of thousands of displaced residents have been provided travel trailers by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Though a relief to those left homeless in the storm’s aftermath, the trailers have been linked to a number of health problems related to formaldehyde exposure (eye, throat, and respiratory distress). The chemical most of us associate with the embalming of the dead is a primary ingredient in several of the engineered wood products commonly used in the construction of such trailers. Under certain conditions the substance is “out gassed” into the surrounding environment. Air testing has shown the trailers to contain up to 50 times the amount deemed harmful by the Environmental Protection Agencies. It is unknown whether the increased levels are due to hastened manufacturing to meet the storm victim’s needs, the humid Louisiana climate’s effect on the building materials, or some yet undiscovered factor. Class-action lawsuits have been filed against both the trailer manufacturers and the federal government.
The result is an unfortunate catch 22 typical of American culture. While an interesting social topic, I find myself most drawn to the situation based on a commonality of materials, and the aesthetic result of the FEMA fiasco. In my sculpture I’ve often worked with MDF due to its artificial aesthetic qualities, and functional diversity. Having no grain, MDF can be machined, and even finished in a way that emulates plastic. Through similar treatment in previous pieces, I have achieved a material ambiguity that is characteristic of my work. The trailer structures themselves, recognizable alone or in the wasting lots they’re commonly seen, provide visual inspiration. By adopting the monochromism and patterning of such lots, and exploring the potential for architectural abstraction they afford, I’ve crafted my own Trailer Park.
FEMA Travel Home Lot
FEMA Travel Home Lot
The followong works is from a series called “Building Blocks”. It was the result of a playful experiment inspired by the building blocks and learning sets I played with as a child. Wanting to harness the creative energy and spontaneity found in those adolescent activities, I designed my own set of “building blocks” consisting of wooden clamps and interconnecting aluminum rods. This supply of pre-fabricated building modules allows me to explore different visual relationships while locking me into an aesthetic; with them I can “play“ with their interchangeability much like a child plays with legos or an erector set. By completely fabricating a set of such blocks before the actual design of the pieces, I am forced to construct my sculptures in a more spontaneous manner. While fabricating the blocks, I try to give as little thought as possible to the designs that I will later construct from them, to help maintain this spontaneity. This aspect helps to blur the lines between work and play, and create an environment reminiscent of a time when our creative or cognitive processes were perhaps different than they are now that we‘re adults. I am striving to extend the interactive, process oriented nature of these works to my audience. While exhibiting this work, my goal is to provide a surplus of components that the viewers may either use to construct their own sculptures, or augment my designs as they see fit. My hope for the viewer is that through this act of participation the formalities of the art gallery recede, and they are allowed a brief respite from adulthood.
Neat-o-Meter
2007
Thresher
2007
Freeze!
2007
Balance Gun
2007
Wood Sculpture, GO!
2007
Detail
Detail
My work in two dimensional mediums, remains heavily influenced by sculptural concerns, as seen the follwoing images. “Condensed painting� (see detail above) is an attempt at blurring the boundries between sculpture and painting. Both untitled prints come from a series where I was exploring the use of subtl embossment and color variation. while depicting ambiguous architecturaly inspired forms.
Condensed Painting
2007
Untitled (monotype)
2007
Untitled (monotype)
2007
Education and Training 2003-2008 1998-1999
BFA, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Art Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Exhibitions Spring 2008 Fall 2007 Summer 2007 Spring 2007 Fall 2006 Spring 2006
BFA Senior Exhibit UNCC Group Painting Exhibition, “This is Not Home Décor” McColl Center for the Arts, 2nd Annual “Launched” Exhibit UNCC Juried Annual Student Exhibition UNCC Advanced Ceramics Exhibition, “Beneath the Surface” UNCC Juried Annual Student Exhibition
Work Experience 2007-Present 2006-Present 2006-2007 2005-Present
Gallery Assistant (Center of the Earth Gallery) Studio Assistant to sculptor J. Paul Sires (Center of the Earth Studios). UNCC Studio Assistant (Ceramic Facilities) -Responsible for regular studio maintenance and upkeep. UNCC Studio Assistant (Sculpture Facilities) -Responsible for regular studio maintenance and upkeep. -Provide assistance to students using sculpture facilities. -Proficiency in the various tools, machinery and techniques utilized in the sculpture facility (woodworking, metalsmithing, etc.).
Achievements and Related Experience 2008 2007 2006 2006 2006 2005
UNCC Area Award for outstanding achievement in sculpture. UNCC recipient of the 2007 Rhein-Medall Prize for Community Art. Design chosen for fabrication and installation at Rhein Interest’s “The Pallisades”. UNCC joint recipient of the 2006 Rhein-Medall Prize for Community Art. Design chosen for fabrication and installation at Rhein Interest’s “The Pallisades”. UNCC Area Award for outstanding achievement in sculpture. Honorable Mention in the UNCC Juried Student Exhibit for the piece “Death Throes”. Artwork published in White Dwarf magazine (issue #305).
Contact Information: Todd Payne (704)-661-4429 607 Welker St. Charlotte, NC 28204 pgarmonbozia@yahoo.com