A Shift in Focus

This project addressed the ritual of a drug addiction. On one side was a huge mirror that Kristin cut lines (of plaster intending to look like heroin) out onto. On the other side she rolled logs of clay, creating a circular base and gradually building it up. At first, the lines were cut neatly and arranged in straight lines. The rolling of the clay was done with care and attention and proper attachment methods. More attention was paid to the clay, with a few interruptions to carefully cut lines. Gradually, the focus was shifted to the lines. The clay was rolled more quickly and slopped on, causing the shape to lose its stability. The lines got bigger and less attention was paid to their layout. The whole process became more and more frantic and the neatness and care was completely lost by the end.

This project was done as a tribute to a close friend of mine who has been struggling with a drug addiction to heroin for the past few years. I have watched as he tried to balance his sober, real life (represented by the clay) with his hidden addiction (represented by the plaster lines). At first, the drugs did not seem to affect his life in any intense way. Gradually, however, the addiction became more important than his real life, taking over. He struggled to balance is sober life with his addiction, but the beast inside created by the drugs became too strong. This project was intended as a tribute to my friend and a release for my own feelings of watching a beautiful life frantically turn into chaos.