“Resistor” 2019, Steel, 22”x8”x2”
Is a hand-forged metal depiction of the electronic symbol for a resistor. Resistors are used to resist the flow of electrical power; they limit the flow of electrons through a circuit. They are a critical piece in just about every electrical circuit. This sculpture reminds us of this critical technology that we interact with every day, but also serves as a symbol of opposition to the policies and acts of the current administration and its shift towards fascism.
Below are symbols of electronic and digital technology forged in three-dimensional steel. These sculptures are a means to bringing to life and shining a spotlight on the microscopic mechanisms that are the building blocks of digital technology. This technology and devices are fundamental to the whole of electronics but we do not see or understand them. These large hand-forged steel sculptures are meant to be reminders (and perhaps harbingers) of the technology we use every day but do not fully comprehend, if at all. The sculptures suggest that we take a step back and ponder the technology that is ubiquitous and impacting our society in tremendous and surprising ways. It impacts and touches almost every aspect of our lives. We need to pay attention to this technology and be aware of its influences, especially on our democracy, the rule of law and our interpersonal relationships.
While we can see a wheel and understand how it works, we do not see or understand what a transistor is, for example. Yet there are nearly 1 billion of them in your smartphone. The transistor is the fundamental building block of modern electronic devices; it is digital information itself. The application of transistors are understood by a very small percentage of the population but they impact everyone on earth. The point of these sculptures is to bring to mind the small but potent forces acting upon us and to think about how mega data about our lives is being stored, bought, shared, sold without our knowledge and used against us, especially if are unaware of the technology and do not pay attention to its impact on ourselves.