Recasting Michigan
Recasting Michigan is a series of sculptures and digital prints exploring issues related to industry and population shift within manufacturing cities of Michigan. In both the prints and sculptures, I am exploring land use, boundaries, and time through line and form. The contours are defined by geography, the city’s industry, and the absence of the adjoining cities. The extrusion of the contour connects the age of the city and its population change over time. By comparing the changes in shape, we are able to draw conclusions about the past importance of industry in the region and its future.
The sculptures and prints reference the role of industry in urban expansion, population growth and decline. The material process and rapid prototyping initially designed for the automotive industry link to the manufacturing past and future potential of Michigan. I generate patterns for these pieces using three-dimensional modeling programs in the computer, before outputting them in wax or resin.
