Pom Poms
Who doesn't love Pom-Poms? They are fluffy and soft, colorful and joyous. They bring out playful aspects of ourselves. I repurpose and transform the pom-poms into patterns that are views of “systems” found in both natural and constructed worlds. These works are often inspired by my research on a variety of topics, from spores of plants carried by the wind to migratory patterns of birds, shifting human populations and the myriad effects of toxic spills. I use playful means of interaction such as touch to engage the audience and draw them into the work.
My 10- 20-foot pom-pom walls of state maps using blue masking tape as waterways encourages viewers to locate where they live on the map. Once they take a closer look at the map key, they learn that the pom-poms are color coded to represent different toxins such as PFAS. The map key also delineates the dangerous effects of these spills upon the human body. Ethereal at times, the patterns always reflect movement and the presence of what is here, now. This work is a call to action.
Constructed from hundreds of repurposed and various sized pom poms and wire, each installation invites touch to activate movement related to patterns in nature (such as birds in flight).