Nathan Dube received his BFA
from the University of Texas and his M.F.A. in Jewelry/Metals/Enameling
from Kent State University, Kent, OH. His early work explored the
connections between memory and the body's senses. By using the body's
senses, particularly the sense of smell, memories can be triggered
allowing the viewer to reconnect with the past. His current work
explores masculinity and the mid-life crisis. The work uses childhood
pranks and toys reinterpreted as high-end adult toys.
The appearance of
each piece affords the object a level of authority, convincing the
viewer that each piece is the result of years of industrial research
and development for actual products. At the same time this authority is
subverted by the absurdity of each piece's function. For instance, the
piece entitled S.P.I.T., which functions as a spit-wad shooter, is
extremely detailed, exquisitely crafted and constructed of precious
materials. These eclectic toys are meant to comment on the absurd
lengths men will sometimes go to in order to recapture their youth.
Click here to visit Dube's web site.
Click here to read more about the exhibit.
Tributaries: Nathan Dube is on view June 5 - July 17, 2009.