Wk 12 — Artist OTW — Heather Anacker & Krista Feld

Artist: Heather Anacker & Krista Feld

Media: Ceramics, weaving, building furniture, room design, fiber practice, painting.

Website: http://kristafeldartist.blogspot.com

Instagram: N/A

About the artist(s):

Heather and Krista are collaborative artists who use a sense of place and materials as art. Both artists are graduates from CSULB and had a creative exhibit called “Dwelling Residency” (2013). The exhibit was different than your average walk-in museum because the artists asked participants to remove their shoes before walking into the exhibit. The artists explain that they did the removing of the shoes to make the exhibit an immersive experience that one would commit to in that moment. Heather and Krista use various natural materials such as saw dust, herbs, and scrubs to make color dye for fabrics. The exhibit is immersive and interesting because it creates the atmosphere of walking into the artists’ studio. The artists also offer a homage to their heritage using tools such as a sewing machine from their grandmothers. The exhibit shows insight into the craft of laborers who turn raw materials into new appliances or tools.

Formal Analysis #1:

The first work of art that I will be analyzing is Krista’s portable room that she built from scratch. Krista explains that the room is made to her dimensions so that she can fit in it. The scale is large because a person can sleep and essentially live in it. The portable room is filled with a variety of colors: natural colors of wood, colorful blankets, and books. The materials used to create this art installation include: wood, curtains, nails, and a sleeping mat.

Content Analysis:

Krista used this art installation to show that humans don’t need fancy buildings and beds to survive. The artist makes the point that her portable room is not a mass-produced item and is very unique (unlike something you would kind at IKEA). Because the room is filled with specific items such as books, blankets, trinkets, and personal belongings, it is very special to Krista. In a way, this portable room is Krista’s safe haven away from the chaotic world. I think that Krista is suggesting that people should return to their roots and be grateful for the small things in life.

Formal Analysis #2:

Heather’s art installation of her “personal space” is composed of photographs on a wall, clothes rack, desk with personal belongings, and a hanging chair/bed. The scale is large because a person can walk through the personal space and sit inside the hanging chair. The photos on the wall are arranged in a type of collage way. The personal space is colorful because of the many photos, clothes, and chair. The chair itself looks rough and gray. The furniture in the space is wooden and large.

Content Analysis:

Heather’s installation is a very immersive because she allows the participants to sit in the hanging chair. Heather explained that a participant chose to sit in the chair and felt great comfort in that space. Both Heather and Krista are attempting to show that humans can be very resourceful and can survive with very little. The personal spaces are significant because they offer insight into the lives of these two women. The experience is even more personalized at the end of the exhibit where the women offer home-made food and chat time.

Synthesis / My experience:

First, I’d like to say that it is a shame that Covid-19 has prevented us from being in a space like Heather and Krista’s exhibit. The idea of Covid-19 and this exhibit made me realize how a lot of these activities are undoable. For instance, if there was an art exhibit open during this time, we wouldn’t be able to actually sit in any space and would have to be far away from each other. As a result, the social distancing and lack of sharing space would take away from this experience. Also, the artists wouldn’t be able to ask participants to take off their shoes because of Covid. Overall, I enjoyed Heather and Krista’s art installation and it inspired me to pursue a more minimal lifestyle. I think as a group of people, we are accustomed to always buying new furniture and appliances. However, Heather and Krista made me think about how less is actually more.