Reinventing the Wheel
Charles Courville
May 19 – July 4, 1993
Charles Courville, Reinventing the Wheel, 1993; willow trees, cloth, plastic, wire, steel; approximately 15' H x 20' L x 6' D
Artist Statement
Dealing with the theme of environmental issues and its ongoing common threat of excess material waste that we daily exude has led me to re-think the way in which to illustrate our abuse of the land. Thus evolved the idea for Reinventing the Wheel.
The use of biodegradable material and non-biodegradable refuse work together in the construction of the woven wheel. Varieties of the Willow tree, which flourish bountiful growth when cut, are structurally bound with recycled wire, rags and plastic. The wheel has the essence of being constructed as it moves along, picking up waste products as it approaches its destiny.
In the process of time, the wood components of the wheel would biodegrade; the leftover segments would be the reminder that we have not found a way to conserve and recycle our precious resources. Do we fabricate explanations to live within this biosphere and have we resolved to hand down waste continually until photosynthesis can no longer manifest itself?
