WINNER!
How It Started
In the summer of 2024, I began exploring innovative ways to share the message behind Broken Banknote, seeking alternatives beyond traditional wall art. My curiosity led me toward found objects and relics from our industrial past, aiming to create a meaningful dialogue between today's technology-driven economy and yesterday’s manufacturing legacy. My intent was to highlight evolving perceptions of labor, shifts in gender roles, and how definitions of hard work have transformed over time—all while maintaining the core Broken Banknote themes surrounding money and currency.
By fall, I had produced several prototypes, documented in earlier posts like the one here and the one here. I'll be honest—the initial responses were not encouraging. On the West Coast, particularly in Los Angeles, the art scene is heavily focused on themes of personal identity, and my new pieces didn't neatly fit this prevailing narrative. Early reactions during limited showings were, at best, lukewarm.
Then What
Undeterred, I decided to test these concepts at the renowned MATERIALS HARD + SOFT exhibit in Texas, a respected event with over three decades of history. This exhibition felt like the perfect venue to challenge curatorial perspectives, engage intellectually curious patrons, and gauge reactions to my conceptually-driven work. The response exceeded my wildest expectations, ultimately earning the jury prize for best conceptual art.
However, the journey wasn't without significant hurdles. Shipping deadlines coincided with devastating fires in Los Angeles, creating an environment of chaos and urgency. Amid this turmoil, while constructing the shipping crate, a momentary lapse of concentration nearly cost me my thumb in a table saw accident—documented vividly in this post.
Turn't & Burnt
Complicating matters further, after successfully installing the work in Denton, Texas, a series of storms triggered power outages. Upon returning from a long weekend, Caitlin, the dedicated show runner, discovered the artwork wouldn’t power on. Initially faced with the piece’s potential removal from the exhibit, I proposed an alternative solution: shipping a replacement CPU along with new code, provided Caitlin felt confident performing the swap herself.
Caitlin courageously stepped up to the challenge, executing the replacement flawlessly and allowing the artwork to remain functional for the duration of the show, with minimal downtime of just three to four days. To emphasize: Caitlin’s dedication and effort far exceeded expectations. Not all show runners demonstrate such extraordinary commitment, and her professionalism made a profound impact. I will certainly find a meaningful way to express my gratitude.
MATERIALS HARD + SOFT 2025
View the exhibition winners & catalog here
Side Note
I used ChatGpt4.5 to re write from my notes. I am not liking the voice or tone. It feels... cheesy and lacks a certain quality or authenticity.