Unnatural History

Artist bucks the trendy in wowza exhibit

Here’s our promise to you with this piece about Jessica Drenk: We're not going to talk about the green movement. Of course, being that the Tucson-based artist makes works out of disposable items, it would be an easy comparison. But we’re not going to go the wussy route. Instead, we say Drenk's exhibition “Archaeologica: The Disposable Museum of Jessica Drenk” is strong enough to stand on its own, without the crutch of a trendy, social movement. Drenk – who set up this show like a natural-history museum and refers to each piece as a "specimen" – creates oddly gorgeous works out of discarded materials. Trashy bits of toilet paper, coffee filters, toothpicks, and Q-tips are embedded in waxes, resins, and clays, creating bulbous, often translucent sculptures that look like prehistoric remnants of a different world. The Q-tips, cotton balls, and porcelain clay become a volcanic, deep-sea formation while clusters of slightly burned toothpicks transform into the quivering quills of dangerously spiky vegetation.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: April 24. Continues through Aug. 2, 2009

 
My Voice Nation Help
1 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Furniture
Furniture

I think it wouldn't be an easy comparison between green movement and being that the Tucson-based artist makes works out of disposable items.

 
©2013 Phoenix New Times, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Phoenix

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city