Green Horn Shrine

I don't do many sculptural pieces but sometimes I get inspired by weird objects that I find, similar to when I made that Junk Wind Chime with an old crushed beer can. I don't know why I get these urges to make things with discarded junk, I suppose it's the pack rat in me that hates to see "interesting" things get thrown away. Anyways, this project started out as a hollowed out styrofoam block. "Perfect shape for a shrine!" I thought. I also knew the perfect thing to honor - my fleeting youth. I had just moved out of my parents house again and I was feeling both horribly naive and painfully aged at the same time. What a strange feeling it is, to have to be an adult but still feel like a baby! And so I dedicated my shrine to that.

According to Webster, a Green Horn is "a person who lacks experience and knowledge." It brings visions of a young buck that is just coming of age- The prime of their life, strong and youthful, their horns still budding and new, fresh and green, full of arrogance and naivety. Sometimes I feel like that buck. So in that way, this piece is somewhat of a self portrait.

 I used a lot of difference media to create the shine itself. Pretty much anything I could get my hands on that reminded me of youth, wonderment, and an overblown sense of entitlement. Mainly just old jewelry and various string, though. I loved adding the layers of stuff - I wanted it encrusted with shiny whimsical trinkets. Also, the doors on the shrine are totally functional. I wanted to be able to display this piece as "reserved" or "out in the open."

By the way, on the subject of shrines, I'm obsessed with them. There are so many beautiful examples out there of artist shrines that inspired me a lot. I love the idea of inserting symbols and relics into a shrine that are significant to only you, making them ultra personal and kind of "secretive" works of art for the viewer to decipher on their own.  Here are some amazing examples of artist shrines that embody those ideals. Some of their meanings are more obvious than others.

 By Jones Moore 

By Mai-Liss

By Collette Bain 

By Cindy La Ferle

Check out those artist pages for even more examples of shrines. Amazing work by talented people. Also, if this has got you curious on how to make your very own personal shrine, here are a few tutorials to get you started!

Shadow box shrines made with dollar store frames by Cut Out and Keep

Paper Shrine Template by Stampers Anonymous 

Make a Gratitude Shrine by Crizmac

New Horizons

So I have some exciting news!

I've been working on a new portfolio website. It will be separate from this one in the sense I will still be periodically adding blog posts and tutorials here and the portfolio will be strictly for displaying my artwork. I've been toying with a few different ways to show my work over the years and I think I've finally got something I'm really happy with. From there you will also be able to view work available for purchase! Stay tuned for more info on my new website as it continues to develop.

I also recently made a Facebook page for my art, which will be the central hub for all my social media outlets from now on. I really just wanted something I can direct all my stuff to, so I can start recommending ONE page instead of a bunch of random blogs and art sites. Please consider liking me on Facebook! 

As far as art goes, I've been pretty productive, just super lazy about documenting it on my blog.  In general over the past few years I've actually kind of shied away from sharing my work because I was frustrated with the quality of it and the fact I felt like I was "pimping out" really old artworks instead of making new ones. So I took some time off from all the distractions of shows and social media to live life and create new things. I'm finally in a place where I feel like my stuff is worth sharing again. And I'm starting to miss bragging about all my new projects, so I think it's time to get back into the mix a little! At the very least, it's definitely time to sit down and do some writing again.

For now, here's a hidden wardrobe I made... I wonder what's inside?