Moon Study
2024
Paper relief
14" x 11" x 1.25"
This relief, constructed entirely out of paper, depicts a life-size version of a sheet of wide ruled notebook paper. Embedded within the notebook paper is the image of the moon and stars over a landscape at twilight. The horizontal (writing) and vertical (margin) lines of the notebook paper are created by paper strips glued on their thin edge to the background. Ambient light bounces off the paper strips and casts color onto the white background and illuminates the sky, further bringing the scene to life.
As a teacher, I think about the relationship of Moon Study and its companion piece, Sun Study, to education. Wide ruled notebook paper is predominately associated with primary and secondary school education, where students use it for activities like journaling and notetaking. Here, as in the classroom, the notebook paper is a place of reflection and illumination.