Raw Dread evolved from a challenge my first Sculpture instructor leveled at me over social media. He asked, “hey, you ever think about remaking that skull piece you made in that first sculpture class that you had with me in 2005?” 

 

I loved the idea. There was something about that original piece that propelled me to where I am now. It seeded my life with a joy of sculpting and allowed me to explore aesthetic themes of death and fear for the first time in an academic setting.

 

Raw Dread, is my revisiting the themes and techniques I was first introduced to fifteen years ago when I was taking my first sculpture class. I kept the skull and the organic/armored symmetrical designs, everything else was elevated.

 

The two sides each represent two distinct expressions of the fear of. The raw and exposed side reveals a fear of pain and suffering. To be left raw and exposed, to every feel every sensation all at the same time unfiltered and unrelenting. The armored side is an overreaction to sensation of pain. It so afraid to confront suffering that it has become deprived of all sensation.

 

The two distinct finishes were as rewarding as the modeling in clay. I love pushing paint to look like a recognizable material or surface. Each side, taking on the quality of the visceral and the rusted

 

This piece and this process were a simple joy. I loved revisiting my old work, and would definitely pursue it again.