Belabeled
2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H x W x D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″
Permanent Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum
Labels Matter
In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.
Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.
Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?
We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely an illusion.
The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.
This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.
From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us. These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.
This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.
Form
The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables.
The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.
The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc. Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.
Drawings for the Marquetry — Multiple Iterations
Creative
What do we mean? … inventive
Block/Cable Support
What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?
Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.
Thin
Our culture is obsessed with Thin.
Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?
Framing the Panel
I used a combination of sliding dovetails and epoxy to make the panels rigid — my first use of a non-reversable adhesive. I felt this part of the structure would (hopefully) not need to be redone.
Making Thin
Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low-calorie bottle of ginger ale. Wrap and hold in place till dry.
If only it were so easy to be thin!
Installing the Mirror
Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.
It’s a Boy!
We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?
It’s a Wrap!
The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected. The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.
Belabeled
2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H x W x D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″
Labels Matter
In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.
Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.
Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?
We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely and illusion.
The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.
This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.
From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us. These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.
This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.
Form
The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables.
The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.
The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc. Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.
Drawings for the Marquetry
Multiple Iterations
Full Size Drawings
I work mostly full size and when throwing vanishing points out manually, they can end up being 12 metres out. This is one of the unfortunate reasons that I moved to vector drawing applicatons. I do miss drawing on paper in full scale. To compensate, I make many prints so as not to lose a sense of the size of the piece.
Creative
What do we mean? … inventive
Block/Cable Support
What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?
Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.
Thin
Our culture is obsessed with Thin.
Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?
Framing the Panel
I used a combination of sliding dovetails and epoxy to make the panels rigid — my first use of a non-reversable adhesive. I felt this part of the structure would (hopefully) not need to be redone.
It’s a Boy!
We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?
Installing the Mirror
Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.
Making Thin
Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low calorie bottle of ginger ale. Wrap and hold in place till dry.
If only it were so easy to be thin!
It’s a Wrap!
The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected. The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.
Belabeled
2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H x W x D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″
Labels Matter
In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.
Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.
Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?
We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely and illusion.
The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.
This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.
From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us. These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.
This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.
Form
The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables.
The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.
The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc. Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.
Drawings for the Marquetry
Multiple Iterations
Full Size Drawings
I prefer to draw on paper, but given the challenges of creating vanishing points on large drawings at full scale, I now work with vector drawing software. To compensate, I make many prints so as not to lose a sense of scale.
Creative
What do we mean? … inventive
Block/Cable Support
What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?
Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.
Thin
Our culture is obsessed with Thin.
Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?
Its a Boy!
We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?
Installing the Mirror
Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.
Making Thin
Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low calorie bottle of ginger ale. Wrap and hold in place till dry.
If only it were so easy to be thin!
It’s a Wrap!
The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected. The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.