Jen Thario Art. Honolulu Hawaii. - portfolio - Minutiae, 2010. Core New Art Space

portfolio > Minutiae, 2010. Core New Art Space

The character of our everyday lives, although generally ignored, is often the determining factor in our interactions, attitudes, beliefs, relationships, successes and failures. We define ourselves and attribute far more weight to the extraordinary events we experience, when our daily routines can really be much more deterministic of our fate. The work created for Minutiae attempts to transcend ordinary reality not by minimizing it, but rather examining the patterns that emerge from the white noise of daily existence. The subject matter in this body of work is neither dramatic nor spectacular. It is mundane and usual and surprisingly beautiful.

Loaded

Loaded, Mixed media Installation. 2010. Transparent photographs, plastic boxes, monofilament, wood.

A three month documentation of the patterns formed in my dishwasher. Anthropologists often make inferences about a society by analyzing the residues left on cookware. Modern dishwashers eliminate this information by scrubbing clean the remnants of our eating habits. When I look at these images, I remember moments. By looking at these fragments I know when my dog died, when I had guests, went on a bender, or had a picnic. The installation is comprised of 58 image pairs, each a transparent photograph encased in 116 clear plastic boxes. The boxes are suspended on a linear framework of tensioned monofilament. Arranged in chronologic order, the images document three months of dirty dishes from June 27 2010 through September 27 2010. The found boxes were discarded by a local business, and repurposed for this piece.
Loaded (detail)

Loaded, perspective view.
Loaded (Detail)

Loaded, detail view.
Cracked

Cracked. Gallery View. 2010.

Digital Print Canvas, thread.

A visual exploration of the idea that the sidewalks on which I travel greatly affected my point of view. In my neighborhood where tree roots protrude through old walkways, I have to look down or risk tripping if my gaze shifts upwards. On smooth sidewalks I look up, take in the world surrounding me and walking is automatic. How does this simple little fact of our personal geography taint our view on life in general? This series documented sidewalks around central Denver. Each object was created by photographing individual segments of sidewalks which were printed onto canvas, seamed and machine stitched together into blocks.
Cracked (Detail)

Cracked, detail view (Whittier, top. Congress Park, bottom)
Cracked (Blake Street)

Cracked, detail (Blake Street, Downtown Denver)
Weeded

Weeded, partial gallery view. 2010. Mixed Media Objects. Dried Tree Roots, Leather.

I have a particular fascination with roots. As an adopted child mine have been severed and forever locked away in a cabinet at the Colorado Department of Health. Ailanthus Trees are an invasive weed that grow six feet in a season, are not deterred by rocks, poor soil, or even no light. If not pulled by the roots they will return ad infinitum. I have decided to uproot them and celebrate the physical symbol of this survival mechanism that can find sustenance and thrive wherever they may land.
Weeded (Interloper)

Weeded, object detail, Interloper. 2010.

Dried Tree Roots, leather, metal.
Weeded (Scourge)

Weeded, object detail, Scourge. 2010.

Dried Tree Roots, Leather.