The Width of the Circle with Susannah Mira

The Width of a Circle utilizes materials sourced from one local manufacturer, namely the discarded foam centers of assorted industrial seals. Through repeated connective processes, these insignificant items form expressive accumulations, resembling patterns and shapes found in the natural world. For most of us, nature is no longer at the core of our everyday activities. Instead, regulating the use of environmental resources for economic gain resides at the forefront of public discourse, representing the enduring struggle to prosper from as well as protect our habitat.

Our group was influenced considerably by the exhibition space. Before undergoing substantial transformation for the purposes of this show, the venue had been long vacant, stripped of its contents – but not its identifying features as a familiar chain store. As such, these pieces reflect the impulse to establish an aesthetic order from production systems and constructed terrain that often fail to make sense.

Collectively, we labored with materials in attempts to produce works of art from Dayton’s industrial sidestream. The project would not have been possible without the   youth participants’ heroic patience, trust and ability to turn anything into a fabulous game.

Special thanks to Miami Valley Gasket Company, Inc.

Project Blog: http://blueskysusannah.blogspot.com

Student Artist:

Charmaine Griffith, Miamisburg, OH – Sinclair Community College

Teen Participants:

Luke Bergeron, Dayton

Aceani Michelle Bigbee, Beavercreek

Grace Deal, Oakwood

David Rodriguez, Riverside

Keaon Shephard, Dayton