Reconciling the Past

Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

Citations

Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/xs55md51s

Abstract

Through the completion of this work and examining the differences between memory and nostalgia I am able to draw upon my own personal experiences with faith, family and death, however fragmented they may be, and situate those experiences into a larger social framework. I am interested in how the power of memory and the subjective nature of nostalgia affect future events of the same nature. Based on the definitions of memory and nostalgia I find my work balancing in the space between the two.

The death of my father, by his own hand, when I was very young has been a constant source of reflection, even though my memories of that event are very scattered. My experiences with the profound and palpable silence associated with his death, combined with the authority of the Catholic Church, are the impetus for both the print and sculptural work. The prints combine layers of text and images that together create personal stories surrounding my father's death. While some of the prints contain fragments of actual events, places or conversations others are my comments about those episodes. The installation of the house forms, some bare, some protected or sealed, has allowed me to give substance to, and investigate further, my connections with home and family. The simple nature of the house form suggests to me a place that encompasses all of the experiences that are drawn upon for this work.

Creator

Date Issued

Additional Information

For access to any supporting images, CU affiliates may log into the Visual Resources Center collections and search for the author's name. Link: https://aahvrc.colorado.edu/luna/servlet

Academic Affiliation