It’s here! It’s (un)real!
After many months of work, I can finally hold my two-book set in my sweaty little hands.
maine college of art
mfa thesis project in progress
I’m going to go ahead and post pictures of the scale model I constructed, attempting to firm up my plans for my mfa thesis exhibition this May @ ICA in Portland ME.
In the center of the installation is a life-sized taxidermied obeast diorama that I’m working on right now. Behind and around the sculpture I will paint an obeast evolution chart onto the gallery wall, showing the animal’s development from a 11-foot manatee like critter to the obeast as it exists today. Also present in this space will be ambient nature sounds including obeast calls. Scale is really important to me for this installation–specifically the relationship and scale of the viewers’ own bodies to that of the work. Originally I had thought to have didactics throughout the space, but I have reconsidered this in favor of stripping it down and challenging the viewers more. I may have brochures available in the space that talk about the obeast, but I’m not sure.
museum for obeast conservation studies
The Museum for Obeast Conservation Studies was founded in 2010 as an organization for the historical and scientific study of the endangered North American Obeast. Given their reclusive natures and dwindling numbers, little is known about this genus of bipedal marsupials, which was hunted to near extinction during the 19th century. This exhibition was hosted by the Free Street Gallery @ MECA as a way to showcase the museum’s growing collection and to open the dialog about the organization’s mission to educate the public about the obeast’s past, present, and future. Visit the MOCS site.
Rachel Herrick 