Lynsey Cook

Bones represent indestructible life and resurrection. When a bone is broken it heals thicker and stronger than before. Soft tissue does not. Nerves are damaged, tissue scars, and muscles atrophy. During the quarantine, my kids and I spent a lot of time walking in the woods, playing in the creeks, and enjoying life, even during a pandemic. We found many types of bones lying around the undergrowth and in the creek that spoke to me. In preparing for this show, since March of 2020, I tried find a medium that best fit my personality. I’m not confident in my drawing or painting abilities. I get by, but nothing that would showcase who I am as an artist. I have always been one to try to fix or salvage what I had instead of running out to buy new. Maybe because I’m cheap. Maybe because I have old school values. Maybe it speaks to my character. I prefer to use materials that are on hand, durable, and in this case, an abundance of bones were my medium of choice.  

Throughout the past 3 years in this program, I have been emotionally exposed and cut to the core more than I could have ever imagined. I thought I was going to school to help others, not myself. I’m not comfortable being open and vulnerable, but I have learned that I’m no good to anyone else if I myself have not learned vulnerability. In life I have been broken. So deeply and completely broken. Working extensively with bones over these past 9 months has been the perfect metaphor for healing and strength gained from psychological trauma. With God’s timing, I have healed and become stronger and more resilient than ever.  

AILEEN

Aileen was discovered on one of many Canam rides to The Ripple on the Wabash River in Illinois. American Bald Eagles hunt and feed on carp at the rivers edge where the bones are then discarded and left to rot. The sticks featured were ones dragged to the bank by beavers from a storage cache as food in the winter. Teeth marks can be seen in place of bark. The airdry clay headstone is from the plein-air introduction art experiential conducted by the SMWC MAAT students several residency’s ago.

CHARLIE

Charlie started out with a 3-D pen I got for my 36th birthday. Filament squiggles on the antlers were inspired by the coronal suture, which for the most part no longer exists on this piece. Seeing the colors swirl brought forth my inner hippie and inspired this retro mandala engraved skull. The color on the skull was created with alcohol inks, while the wood burned mandala base is a continuation of the skull-dala.

GERT

Gertrude, Gerty, Gert is a talking stick. As prophesied by my internship supervisor, originally intended as a statue, Gerty turned into a talking stick, or, speakers staff. If she ever has the pleasure of attending a group therapy session, she will be the symbol for a members turn to speak. She is very delicate and will have to be handled with the utmost care. It is my hope, that knowing how unique and fragile she is, when held, group members will keep calm during their turn. Gert, is a combination of many different bones, from many different animals. As a disclaimer, all bones featured in my art were found discarded in the woods of rural Illinois. No animals were harmed in the making of Gert! None that I know of anyway.  

JEFFREY

This big boy is my pride and joy. He was created to be represent grit and strength. Strength Of Mind. Strength Of Character. What it took to keep going when there was nothing left. When there was no end in sight. Jeffrey represents endurance. My kids found the skull in a creek bed in rural Illinois. Not many mothers would be speechless, in a good way, when their kids bring them a severed head, but I was astonished at the size. I really feel like he came into our lives for this purpose. To whatever hunter lost their trophy deer, sorry not sorry.

THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS; FORMERLY KNOWN AS DARYL AND DARRYL

The brothers were born after I laid my collection of clean bones out on the table to see what came to life. Then, in April of 2020, the sparkly sea beast was born. I wanted them to be otherworldly yet elegant, therefore incorporated lace for their background. The boys’ name came from something my friend Sarah Sears said in a meaningless conversation about a man named Daryl and his brother Darryl. After a couple of my other pieces were completed, and a serial killer theme emerged, I felt like the Menendez brothers also fit their personality.

WHERE THE WEIRD THINGS GO

After No-Face’s gold turns into dirt, he is exiled only to become undertaker to the Weird Things’ hereafter. In this lifeless utopia made of multicolored bone, one should observe these deceased, yet peaceful, creatures having the time of their “deaths.” For the younger guests, fun and entertainment offered through sternum hopscotch, the No-Face no-fun house, or follow the tortoise on the hare down the mandible slide! Older tenants may enjoy bird watching in the forest of rib trees, or relax by the fire and have some warm tooth soup. Lastly, patrons are encouraged to partake in yummy snacks from the vertebrae smorgasbord.  

This piece was inspired by a simple desire by the artist to experience new techniques on an unfamiliar surface. Once I experimentally hydro-dipped the deer skull and animal bones, saw a vibrant, macabre wonderland, waiting to be envisaged.