Voids have been a consistent theme in my art for many years. Whether working 2- or 3-dimensionally, my art refers to the form of a container. More specifically, a container for living; however, these spaces are empty and evacuated of any signs of life. They are not luxurious containers.  Not necessarily a place you'd call 'home', but somewhere to survive. The voids embody an in-betweenness, a tension created by opposing forces. This repetitive reference to home-like structures symbolizes not just a transitional physical place, but also a psychological  space. Though inspired by personal experiences, this pursuit of the undefinable and the in-between is one shared by those who continually interrogate their surroundings and question the world.

“To live means to lack something at every moment.”
― Paul Valéry

These are the first works of my Glorious Void relief series. Check www.melisemestayer.com for more images!

I have been researching different species of coral and studying the various forms and textures. The extensive variations makes choosing a single form difficult. From the round and playful Bubble coral, to the grooved, rough Brain coral, to a slick flat Mushroom-like species, I have been challenged in choosing a place to begin. Instead, I'll be creating a reef that is composed of a few different types of coral - probably more of a hybrid than an exact replica of a species. I have to consider which will be most interesting to create given the limitations of the materials, and that requires some experimenting.

First, I cut the tubes into thin slices, about 1/8" thick, using a blade. Then, with the reversible adhesive I ordered for this project, I glue the slices together. Unlike quick-drying hot glue, this adhesive takes a while to set. I have to tape the pieces together until they are dry, making this process much slower. The result is something similar to the honeycomb structure from the straw sculpture. Although beginning with a form like the maquette seems like a logical place to start, it is not where I want to end this process.

I continue to pull, glue, and tape the tubes, creating more irregular shapes. Then, I cut into the structure, making little slivers of cardboard that can be bent and woven throughout the main form to create an intricate inner circuitry. Once again, glue, tape, and wait. Using approximately 10 or 15 of my rolls, I create different sizes that are then stacked on top one another with the largest on the bottom. After becoming more familiar with reef species, I have a vision for this particular structure as expainding as it rises from the ground; however, in order to assemble it like I am thinking, it must be glued upside down. Why fight gravity when it can be used to your advantage?

Over the past four months, my pile of cardboard tubes has grown. Now, it's time to move from the collection to the creation phase. This project has required me to take a different approach to art making. In previous works, the concept and object develop in tandem around a material, form, or other source of inspiration. For Reef Cycle, I proposed an installation without having any real idea how that would manifest in a physical form. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to best use the materials to create the reef. In the past, my installations have developed more organically. The pieces would grow and evolve without the necessity to stay true to the referent. This project is different in that I must retain that imagery throughout the entire process. While the objective is very straight forward, I still feel the potential to be creative, experimental and somewhat abstract in how I ultimately construct the reef.

One little detail I did include in the proposal was that EVERYTHING must be recyclable. I had no idea that finding an adhesive that broke down would be so difficult. Thanks to my previous years as a sculpture and object conservator, I remembered the conservation motto, "Everything must be reversible".

More often than not, I use non-traditional materials to create art, and this project was no exception. To attach my cardboard tubes, I found a water-soluble glue, similar to Elmer's for art conservation: Jade-R (R meaning reversible). No one had heard of this product, but it was all I had found that fulfilled my requirements so I ordered a couple quarts. It would take a week attached to a snail's back to arrive at my door, but I had found my recyclable adhesive! Now, onto the next problem...