Figurative Bust Sculpture

 

Poked (top bust) and Cole (bottom bust)

Air-dry clay, wood, acrylic paint, lace, yarn, pastels, white copy paper

Top Sculpture 4" x 2" x 2". Bottom Sculpture 1" x 2" x 1"

Poked (front)

Poked (side)

Poked (back) 

Cole (front)

Cole (side)

Cole (back)

In Process 

Artist Statement:

    While taking hard drugs is a dangerous risk in itself, it is made worse when a pregnant woman is making the child in her stomach vulnerable to these same risks. The top piece titled Poked reflects a woman, specifically a mother, high on drugs. This is shown through needles sticking out of her chest surrounded by badly bruised purple and blue skin. There is also paper that was made to look like a cigarette dangling out of her mouth. Her eyes were made to look bloodshot and lost which is how a mother who is putting her child at risk must feel about her actions, as drug addiction is not easy to quit no matter how bad you may want to. The bottom piece titled Cole represents what happens to a baby after it is born addicted to drugs and diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS is a collection of problems that occur with a baby after birth when they are undergoing opioid or other substance withdrawals that they have become dependent on in the womb. This is represented through the skin of the infant colored with a blue-gray hue as the chances of miscarriage and stillbirths are also much higher when the mother is addicted to opioids. Together, Poked and Cole are united on a wooden base made to look like a bassinet with Cole placed inside the divot in the wood with yarn coming out of him connecting to Poked symbolizing their connection and passing of substances from mother to infant. Every action a pregnant mother does affects the baby inside her and that is what I aimed to show with Poked and Cole.

Research:

https://lagunatreatment.com/support-for-women/newborn-health-effect/

    An overview of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and examples of the symptoms associated with NAS as well as with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). 

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/baby-opioids/

    Explores the issue of mothers being sent home with their babies while struggling to beat their own drug addiction, and how many of their children die as a result.

https://ifstudies.org/blog/drug-addicted-mothers-and-child-well-being

    Elaborates on the effects that mothers’ substance abuse has on their children born addicted to drugs in the first few years of their young lives.