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
Jump to a project:
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?.
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 StudiesElectrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
-
Light Emitting StudiesElectrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
-
Light Emitting StudiesElectrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
-
Light Emitting StudiesElectrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
-
Light Emitting StudiesElectrical circuits, conductive thread, paper, discarded plastic packaging, rubber
-
Light Emitting StudiesElectrical 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.
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.
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
-
CommonplaceElectrical circuits, steel, found objects
Light Emitting Studies 2010
Light emitting circuitry, wood, sewing pins, 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.
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.
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.