Expanded Artist Statement:

"Fit to be Tied" is an exploration of history, ideology, and the transformation of memory. The piece revolves around the central figure of a weathered flax seed spinning wheel, which is a historically recognizable symbol of feminine craftsmanship. The wheel is positioned in the middle of the piece and acts as the facilitator of conceptual tension throughout the work.

 

This piece is inspired by the subconscious storage of memory as it relates to numbers and ideology. The cassette tape ribbons stream down from the wall and intertwine with the spokes of the spinning wheel, serving as echoes of memory once captured, existing solely on a now-obsolete piece of technology. When displayed together, the ribbons transform into a woven narrative through time.

 

The meticulous arrangement of eight rows of cassette tapes within "Fit to Be Tied" holds intentional symbolism, drawing inspiration from the profound significance of numbers in various cultural and religious contexts. In Hebrew numerology, the number eight represents new beginnings, renewal, and regeneration.

 

The deliberate dark break line at the fourth row serves as a nod to the creation narrative, where on the fourth day, the sun, moon, and stars were brought into existence. This boundary signifies a pivotal moment—the transition from a world of pure cosmic elements to a realm filled with life. It is on the fifth day that life is introduced, and with it, the potential for corruption emerges.

 

This narrative alignment continues with the significance of the sixth day, where, in the biblical creation story, humans are brought into existence. Notably, women are described as being created from the rib bone of Adam. However, it is this specific aspect of the creation story that resonates with personal discord. The notion of a subservient woman, crafted from Adam for Adam, became a catalyst for my religious questioning and ultimately distancing from the religious beliefs of my childhood.

 

It is precisely on the tape that has fallen from the sixth row during the creation of woman that the title of the piece, "Fit to Be Tied," is featured. This deliberate representation symbolizes my own frustrations with my identity and place within the world, serving as a visual testament to the internal conflicts and struggles that influenced the creation of this sculptural narrative.

 

A single wing graces the front facade of the spinning wheel, referencing the archetype of a fallen angel and adding to the theme of a fall from grace in the piece. It introduces a theme of spiritual rebellion and challenges the connection and interplay between earthly constraints and celestial aspirations. By replacing the absent handle and leg with a wing, it is suggested that the creation of our ideologies requires a delicate balance between stability and liberation, tradition and rebellion.

 

Through this sculptural installation, I urge observers to unravel the intricacies of ideological evolution and to question the threads that bind us all. "Fit to be Tied" is a testament to the shared nature of the human experience, where our past, present, and futures converge in a dance of continuity and change.