About Bonnie

Baltimore City - Station North A&E District
Baltimore-based artist and mom Bonnie Crawford does not sleep well. Her work explores how intimacy, risk, and harm inform habits of care. She began working this way when she became a single mother of two and in turn became dependent on extralegal, queer family structures for support. She received an MFA from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a BA in Studio Art from the University of Maryland College Park. She was awarded a prize in the 2015 Juried… more

Light Emitting Studies 2006

These works primarily consist of light and electricity. The electronic components used to control the electricity are free form soldered as prominent elements in sculptural composition. In addition, the circuitry controls the timing of the light, while rubber, conductive thread, consumer packaging and paper alter the quality of that light.
I refer to the works in this series as studies in that they engender analysis through their production. They are not studies in the sense that they are a means to a more complete work of art, nor does their functionality as studies cease when they are completed. Both the act of making and the act of viewing them links experimentation with experience to elicit ?illumination?.
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
  • Light Emitting Studies
    Light Emitting Studies
    Electrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber

Commonplace

Commonplace uses light as a sculptural element in installation. The logic of their circuits ensures that the tiny lights fade on and off in direct correlation to the other lights blinking nearby. Each light functions as a discrete object while simultaneously contributing to the ebb and flow of the environment.
The lights are aimed at various objects throughout the room. The objects range from discarded plastic packaging, PC board, or saltine crackers. They function simultaneously as obstructions, windows, and lenses for the light aimed through and around them.
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects
  • Commonplace
    Commonplace
    Electrical circuits, steel, found objects

Light Emitting Studies 2010

Light emitting circuitry, wood, sewing pins, paper, cotton.
  • Light Emitting Study
    Light Emitting Study
    Electrical circuitry, fabric, wood.
  • Light Emitting Study
    Light Emitting Study
    Electrical circuitry, sewing pins, wood, paper, cotton.
  • bck03.jpg
    bck03.jpg
  • Light Emitting Study
    Light Emitting Study
    Electrical circuitry, wood, paper, cotton.
  • Light Emitting Study (detail)
    Light Emitting Study (detail)
    Electrical circuitry, wood, paper, cotton.

Light Emitting Studies 2011-2014

These electrical circuits are free form soldered as prominent elements in sculptural composition. The lights fade on and off at a variable speed relative to the amount of ambient light in the room. Other sculptural elements at play include cheap craft materials and bits of garbage.
  • bck-2014-09.jpg
    bck-2014-09.jpg
  • bck-2014-10.jpg
    bck-2014-10.jpg
  • bck-2014-01.jpg
    bck-2014-01.jpg
  • bck-2014-02.jpg
    bck-2014-02.jpg
  • bck-2014-05.jpg
    bck-2014-05.jpg
  • bck07.jpg
    bck07.jpg
  • bck04-2.jpg
    bck04-2.jpg
  • bck02-2.jpg
    bck02-2.jpg
  • bck_sondheim2013_01.jpg
    bck_sondheim2013_01.jpg

Viewfinders

Sculptural elements made of fabric, embroidery, paper, and found objects are housed in 35mm slide viewfinder souvenirs. The viewer engages intimately with the viewfinders by holding them in hand, and bringing the objects to the eye for viewing. The sculptural components interact with the viewfinder as both obstruction and window within the frame of view.
  • img_2469.jpg
    img_2469.jpg
  • img_2513.jpg
    img_2513.jpg
  • img_2492.jpg
    img_2492.jpg
  • img_2490.jpg
    img_2490.jpg
  • img_2489.jpg
    img_2489.jpg
  • img_2486.jpg
    img_2486.jpg
  • img_2477.jpg
    img_2477.jpg
  • img_2475.jpg
    img_2475.jpg
  • img_2472.jpg
    img_2472.jpg
  • img_2523.jpg
    img_2523.jpg

Light Emitting Studies, 2015

Bonnie Crawford's Light Emitting Studies 2015 consist of hand stitched soft sculptures, painted wood, cheap craft materials, and electrical circuits. The electronic components used to control the lights are free form soldered as elements of the sculptural composition. Tiny sensors in the circuits respond to the ambient light in the room to alter the rate of the blinking lights.