Artist of the Month February 2012

Carrie M. Becker

St. Louis, Missouri

How and when did you start creating art?

I think I was eight when I made my first sculpture. It was made from a few scraps of wood that were nailed together and it sort of resembled a box. Ironically, I named it Barbie’s Carport. In high school I drew and painted some, but it wasn’t until college that I became interested in photography. After that, it was a hop, skip and a jump to sculpture/installation.

What media and genres do you work in?

Media-wise I’m all over the place. Sometimes I shoot straight photographs with a digital camera, but when it comes to sculpture, I employ an “anything goes” mentality. In the past couple of years I’ve been favoring fabric, wax, and plastic. As far as genres go, I have no idea! How about “dilettante”? If I’m being serious, then “installation artist”.

Who or what are your influences?

In terms of photography, I’m continually inspired by Sandy Skoglund, Sally Mann and James Casebere. If we are talking about sculpture, then newer artists like Elissa Cox, Diana Al-Hadid, Mandy Greer, and more established artists like Eva Hesse, Judy Pfaff, and Tara Donovan.

Barbie Trashes Her Dreamhouse was begun as a side project in opposition to the more demanding “academic” work I had just created for my first solo show. I had a fairly extensive decorative collection of 1/6th scale miniatures of household goods, and after looking at the work of James Casebere, I wondered if I could create something in a similar vein - a small world that looked convincingly life-size. As I thought of rooms to create, the pre-made miniatures figured less prominently and I began making more props by hand. There was a point when I only wanted viewers to see the sets as real life, tangible rooms, but then the craft aspect got lost in the translation. The Barbie connotation was introduced to bring it back to the miniature. That opened up the interpretation and that’s when the series went viral.

Describe your creative process?

I begin with materials that speak to me for one reason or another. To my mind, I pick materials that are “fun”; pink plastic, tiny toys, spray foam. Most days I don’t even know what I’m going to end up with. Over time, abstract forms and patterns emerge that remind me of certain things in real life and I formulate a plan-of-action based on those connections.

What are you working on currently?

My ongoing body of work is called “Emergent Structures”, which I began about three-and-a-half years ago in graduate school. It’s an amalgamation of several things as once: sculpture, installation and photography. I begin by making “organic”, abstract sculptural forms and then install them in abandoned properties. The installations are photographed and those results are usually displayed in a gallery alongside the sculpture itself.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

Since graduate school was only completed in recent memory, I feel like the path is still wide open. Professionally, I’m trying to explore options for artist residencies, teaching opportunities and shows. Someday, I’d like to get a book published of my abandoned farmhouse series. Artistically, I would like to make my sculptures and installations much bigger and more grand – they are kind of on the minimalistic side at this point, and I wonder just how extreme they can become.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My personal website is http://www.carriembecker.me and the BTHD and Emergent Structures series can also be viewed/purchased from http://www.flickr.com/photos/carriembecker/sets/72157627470133958/

And

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/carriembecker