Amputation 2006
 

Sunfest 2006/Working on Amputation project

Amputation

-I began working on this project, Amputation - which is a dedication to the victims of war and violence in 2001 . I go to different events, festivals and exhibitions and ask people to volunteer their hands and fingers for a quick and friendly mold. In the first stage of the work, participants are asked to place their hands in a large pot containing hot wax to create a wax mold. Once I’ve accumulated a large collection of wax molds, I pour plaster into each wax mold and produce a plaster cast. In the final stage of the project, I melt the wax mold to strip down to the cast plaster impression of the individual hands. It is an extremely labor intensive process to prepare the individual plaster casts as a part of the installation.

Each year I have had nearly 600 participants who have volunteered their hands for Amputation. Since I have been working on this project for over 5 years, it will take me about 5 more years to fully develop the piece to the level where I feel it will make the greatest impact.

I continue to exhibit the piece as it grows. The actual installation consists of a pile of plaster hands and fingers.