A recent event profoundly shaped my artistic trajectory. My century brick house required a roof patch. Unforeseen issues led to a new roof, wall, and foundation. Outside, granite stones from the house foundation filled a bin destined for the landfill. These stones were hewn by skilled craftsmen from granite, to support a large structure, more than a century ago.
Inspired, I collected the stones—solid, enduring, and imbued with history—to honour the artisans who shaped them. I molded these stones in wax and handmade paper, reframing and reimagining them as social and cultural signifiers. With meticulous attention to materials and process, the ‘stones’ become poetic gestures—embodying regional values and serving as powerful symbols of constructing a home. I explore themes of labour, memory, resilience, and local history—reaffirming the cultural significance of material and craft while offering a poetic reimagining of the built environment that shapes our everyday lives.
No Foundation
paper relief sculpture, from granite foundation stones
Foundation Stones
cast paper sculptures, from granite foundation stones
Foundation Walls
paper relief sculpture. from granite foundation stones
Inspiration foundation wall and stones
photography by Natalie Hunter and Susan Barton-Tait