erica bradshaw - Garden Pains

For my senior capstone project, I was to create a solo exhibition of work. I chose to center my show around the stages of grief.

Artist Statement

In my show Garden Pains, I use digital illustrations and metal sculptures as methods of expressing and evoking emotions. Everyone has experienced the death of a loved one, whether that be a family member, friend, or a pet. My show focuses on the stages of grief and emotions experienced during the grieving process. The theme is depicted within each piece in my show through flowers that hold specific meanings relating to the emotions of loss. My illustrations focus on the loss of loved ones while my sculptures are about growth through the experience of loss.

Each digital illustration is specific to the different stages of grief. Wooden dolls are illustrated to enact each stage of grief. My sculptures require the viewer to interact in the process of growth and change. I wanted to create an interactive installation as the process is not something you go through alone. The leaves of the tree sculpture contributed by viewers symbolize their loss to make it personal and impactful. To connect my illustrations and sculpture pieces I made flowers representative of the different stages of grief. These flowers can be found in vases next to each illustration and depicted in the bottom of the illustrations.

I wanted to explore how such a simple five step process is easy to see from the outside. When going through the emotions of grief it is exceptionally challenging, more than words can describe. For example, after the passing of a loved one, some families will continue to talk about them while other families will just try to move on. The emotions experienced are different for every person. I created this work because I have gone through the process multiple times myself with family loss. With this body of work, I aspire to provide a platform and space for people who have or are struggling with grief to symbolize they are not alone.