Madison McKenzie

"Greener on the Other Side" Inspired by Barfly (1987) The image above conveys ideas about class division. The single plate represents how an individual is faced with few options and the surrounding objects, on and around the plate, speak to the stereotypes we assign to different class levels.   I used corn to symbolize the lower and upper class. The fresh corn on the cob and the perfect, square slice of butter represents access to appealing and healthy food that the upper class has recourses  to.  The canned food suggests the lack of resources the lower class has.  The buttered corn on the cob is paired with silver utensils on a folded napkin and a wine glass represent the abundance and privilege the upper class has with having more money. The opposing side with the off-brand canned corn is paired with plastic utensils, a paper napkin, and a tipped over whisky glass. this represents the lack of resources and privilege the lower class has.  The left side of the i...

Figurative Sculptures  "The Inconvenient Sculpture" Clay, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, and Wood 10.5 x 5.5. x 6 inches This piece makes a statement about global warming. The face on the sculpture has a look of concern about the rising temperatures we see through global warming, and was made to be wearing a winter had and scarf to further push this idea that they are living in a cold area. The wood block was painted with red to show warmth. The goal of combing the use of blues and red was to show how temperatures are rising in places they aren't suppose to. The sculptures base also resembles a puddle, showing that the figure is melting due to the heat. This concept was inspired by photos of polar bears who are sitting on small, melting ice burgs. "Money on my Mind" Clay, Acrylic Paint, Wood 6 x 3.5 x 5.5 inches This sculpture is a statement about capitalism and how it affects people. The figure's face made to be expressionless, hinting that capitalism can "suc...

Dinner and a Move - Work in Progress 

Gregor's Room Paper and Ink 18 x 10 x 10 inches (space of entire piece) After reading Metamorphosis, I felt that Gregor's story was very sad. The sadness I felt from the ending of the story was translated into the use of blues for the blanket, lamp shade, and pin stripes on the pillow. It seemed that Gregor was the bread winner of the family before his metamorphosis, making me think that he lived a depressing and tired life supporting his family. To show this depressing nature, I made the blanket have stains. I also made the wood on the bed frame, lamp, and coat rack look very worn and destressed to represent his feelings about his life before and after his metamorphosis. I chose white for the accent color because it not only felt realistic, but because it also contrasted against the blue and kept the color pallet muted, further pushing the depressing theme I was trying to capture. Gregor is represented as a roach, hiding under the bed. This reflects a part of the story where h...

Masking Tape Shoes  Masking tape 10 x 3 x 3 inches

100 Objects Book Shelf Floor of an Old Time Portrait Studio Patch of Dirt  

 100 Objects - Work In Progress

  100 Objects - Photos of Spaces