Show Statement

You Already Have Everything You Need, a mantra that has driven the creation of this body of work by Claire Smith. Living in a society where “more is better” can turn very quickly into a burden of excess and inevitably trash. With an eye for potential and a heart for saving the planet, Smith scours back alleys and trash piles dragging a collection of will-bes (as in this will be good for…) to car, then home, then studio. Smith challenges herself to use only collected and repurposed materials from her journeys including parts of her own pieces that have been started and abandoned. 

Though the word trash conjures images of dark, dirty, and broken, there is a consistent lightness, joy, and personification at play in Smith’s work. The enjoyment she gets and the humor she shares in building each piece is evidenced in the titles that remind all that joy and laughter have an important place, even on gallery walls. From waste to ‘will be’ to art, this shot of dopamine will leave you smiling.

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