Featured Artist: J. Penney Burton

From April 14th, to June 2nd, we present "Refuse/Re-seen" during which we'll focus on individual artists here on our blog.  Today, we're pleased to introduce to you: J. Penney Burton


My work deals with the cycles of death, disintegration, rebirth, and regeneration found in the natural world.  I typically use found organic and man-made materials in my work.  The alchemy involved as objects, bodies, and elements break down and then come back together to form something new is fascinating, and holds particular promise for a scavenging artist.  The collected industrial materials are juxtaposed with the natural ones, mimicking the tensions found in the man-versus-nature relationship that goes on around us each day.

ph (Potential Hazard) 6.5" x 9" x 12" 2010

In ph (Potential Hazard), pig intestines are once again combined with rusted materials, in this case, steel wool and barbed wire.  The rusted steel wool, broken down by the elements, was recently found in this nest-like shape in a kiln yard.   Egg-like forms have been created with the potentially dangerous wire, and wrapped with the pig intestine, to create semi-translucent coverings and potentially permeable barriers.  These both fill and spill out of the nest, leaving the viewer to ponder what could possibly hatch out of this man-versus-nature union.

Doe A Deer, 9" x 12" x 6" 2012

Doe a Deer combines the jawbone of a young female doe with other materials.  The piece is held together structurally with a delicate steel mesh, which is then cast over with eco-dyed hand made paper, so that the essence of flowers and green leaves are left behind upon it.  This structure rests upon a branch that was broken off a tree during a storm last spring.  This is a shrine to the deer that died when hit by a car on a local road, a delicate reminder that if more attention is not paid to the currently unbalanced relationship between man and the natural world around them, one or both will perish as the end result.