Natural Economy, 2018

                                       Found walnut, loonie, spray bottle, liquid soap, toothbrush, frying pan, chain, and light switch 
                                       40 x 35 x 5 inches

Natural Economy is the meeting place of common objects. Though seemingly random, these objects have been carefully chosen. One beam of walnut features an embedded spray bottle (with liquid soap) and a toothbrush. Together these objects deal primarily with acts of cleanliness; by embedding them into the beam of walnut, they challenge what we consider “clean”: the chemically produced or the natural. The second beam of walnut includes a chained frying pan and an embedded light switch. Both objects rely on electricity to function. The light switch is embedded into the growth-rings of the tree to ironically challenge the role of lumber in the production of energy but also the removal of energy from the tree itself. Lastly, the loonie (coin) indicates the presence of the lumber industry’s role in the Canadian economy and the mass engineering of lumber to meet the demand. Overall, this sculpture challenges the role of the commodity and mass production in relation to the human body and our everyday habits.