At the Hands of Humans
This project is a physical analogy that demonstrates humankind's futile attempts to perfect the natural world. The piece comments on the effects of human intervention in nature, particularly on the consequences of competitive breeding. The presence of my hand played the important role of the scientist with her petri dish, proving that functional life depends on more than the appropriate animal materials and creative collage work.
Life sized, with patterns drafted from diagrams found in the Mississippi Livestock Judging Manual, the lamb was created entirely from recycled leather jackets, sheepskin and red meat. The lamb was frozen and brought to Wolfville NS, where it was installed and left over a period of three days. As it melted, it fell off the support stakes, symbolizing the premature death of many genetically altered animals. In the hopes that the scent of this artificial creature would attract wildlife, the lamb was under 24 hour, video surveillance each day. No such interactions occurred.
Cellphone image: Getting stuffed
Day 1: Installed in Wolfville, NS
View of the project with the Bay of Fundy in the background
Day 2: Lamb has melted, and the ants are the first to discover it
Day 3: Lamb has been visited by a cat caught in video footage
Day 3: Not smelling so good at this point, time to pack up and head back to the city
