Location: Schenks Branch Greenway

Value: $ 6500

Artist Statement

Las Carpas #2 investigates the mythical American west through visual cues and symbols influenced by the 18th Century tent circuses of Texas and Mexico known as the Las Carpas. By taking inspiration from historical texts from the period, I have created a fictional cast of characters to which this body of work is based. Often interested in the mythic and fantastic, this cast of characters allows me to explore the influences of storytelling in the mythical American west.

As an artist, I have been influenced by the ideals and practices of the nomad. The "teardrop" trailer is a nostalgic representation of all things ideal in the exploration of the American west. In this case the trailer is placed up on blocks that renders the vehicle useless. Placed on top of the trailer in a whimsical fashion is a flashback to the prehistoric with the North American Musk Oxen. Placed on top of the Musk Oxen is our heroine dressed appropriately for the occasion in a moo-moo.

Influenced by the formalism of sculptors such as Brancussi and Martin Puryear, this piece mimics ideals represented in high-modernism sculpture. The visual representation of the stack has been used throughout art history within sculpture. The stack sets up a hierarchy of unintended preferences.

Mark Clarson
6118 N. Ozark Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: 773-656-6049

thomasclarson@gmail.com
www.markclarson.com

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