I wanted to create a contrast between the vast open spaces of nature and the tightly enveloping, almost claustrophobic, structure of the project.

A View to the Underworld

Separate Molds

Failed Molds

I used a putty mold to create 12 replicas of keys out of clear plastic.  I made the keys translucent because I wanted them to be representations of keys, not the actual functioning key.  Hanging from the white branches, I wanted the keys to seem insubstantial, yet present, a representation.  To incorporate text, I wrote on the keys with sharpie, things that were important to me, or things I wanted to see.  Keys to….”the moon”, “happiness”, etc….

This quote that I found underlines how the process of creation takes precedence over the result itself. I was going to paint the hands initially, but I wanted the focal point to be on the pumpkin (the lack of paint also makes it easier to see the details of the hand).

I chose the calloused hands of my father primarily to symbolize how process is something that takes time and much effort – the weathered look of the skin is indicative of the passage of time, as well as the hard labor required to ‘produce great pumpkins’.

The hands were molded using RTV rubber (a type of putty). The pumpkin was molded using silicone.