Cathedrals and Refuse 

An examination of community waste and sacred space.

 http://cathedralsandrefuse.blogspot.com/

Scherff, Katharine. Rose Refuse. Fall 2015, Styrofoam cup, foil, water bottle, coke can, wire.

As a painter and photographer I am always watching. Observing people's movements and facial expressions. I am often intrigued by where they live, the stuff in their yards, and the things in their shopping carts. I like to watch and observe and then capture those moments with my camera. These are moments in time, which have the potential represent far more than the captured image. I particularly like to watch simple moments transpire. While driving I often spot trash swirling around, caught in the whirling dervishes of wind. As I am not originally from Lubbock I have been fascinated with the Plain's wind, how powerful it is and its various sometimes chaotic effects.

When I was first looking for homes to live in a huge spring storm blew in and tangled irrigation machinery as if they were made of twine. The effects of the wind are everywhere here and I found the ballets where choreographed for trees, trash, and dirt; so lovely and interesting to watch. Trash often collects in my front yard, swirling around and hitting the brick facade. That forceful simplicity often brings interesting treasures to my door. While picking up the litter I often photograph interesting pieces of refuse like foil, wrapping paper, and Styrofoam cups, which are tangled in my front garden. Though these things were manufactured to be used and thrown away I am struck by the importance and impact of their short interaction with us. They are a part of birthday parties, garage sales, evening football games, all of which are so interwoven with our daily lives and memories. The discarded, now, trash wanders aimlessly until is finally degrades. However it does not die, it's objecthood died as soon as it was discarded. And yet, I find it at my doorstep wanting to give it a new life. That is how the refuse collected in my front yard has become the very materials of my stained glass series - "Cathedrals and Refuse".

Through my reflections of the readings this past semester I found Linda Weintraub's book the most difficult to digest. I don't often study contemporary art now eco-art. I never found it interesting or of value. I always had images of hippies painting rock faces, declaring the earth a sacred space. However, Weintraub delivered a new and highly divergent lens for eco art in this book. She explored multiple mediums, artistic periods, artists, and motivations. When reading that one artist’s (can’t remember who it was to save my life - maybe Hehe) comments on medieval churches representing community I was struck by his own understanding of their function.  As a medievalist I have been so focused in my research on how images, buildings, and rituals affected the individuals that were involved. I never thought to understand a contemporary person's own interpretation. He was right, these buildings are about community. The cathedrals were the center of a community. They not only symbolized the strength of the church but of the people who helped build and plan these testaments of Medieval technology, faith, and ingenuity.

Scherff, Katharine. Mother of God. Fall 2015.
 Styrofoam cups, wrapping paper, Wandering Jew plant.

I was also affected by the Bright Ugochukwu Eke installation where thousands of used and discarded plastic water sachets were repurposed into sculpture to illustrate the conspiracy of water pollution and commercialism in Nigeria.

Scherff, Katharine. Pray for Us. Fall 2015. 
Wrapping paper, styrofoam cup, coke can, foil.

In contemplating all of these ideas this past semester I have come up with these amalgamations of my fascination with trash and gothic cathedrals. I have composed stained glass lancets, rose windows, and icons of saints not with colored glass but with found trash. The most beautiful pieces were photographed and layered one on top of the other to create these collages of refuse. I intend to print them out in a saint card format. One could carry them around as little mementos to perhaps remind one of our historical past, community, or wastefulness, and that beauty can be found anywhere.

Scherff, Katharine. Light of God. Fall 2015. Wrapping paper, foil.