Jennifer Fernando

she/her

By using materials that have been tossed aside or disregarded, I offer the observer a chance at
reevaluation. I highlight textures, thinness, and weight. I create thin softwood shavings under 0.003 of an inch thickness with a traditional western handplane to then dampen and then set out to dry flat. I then piece these thin shavings together to create sculptures that are translucent and airy yet are made of wood. On the other end of the spectrum I also work with recovered steel from the scrap yard, combining pieces of steel possessing organic shapes welded to structural forms from industry no longer useful in its original form. These strong pieces of steel rise and fall, twist and stand erect, and are crushed and cut before I alter them in any way. Deconstructing and then reforming materials that are not always forgiving presents a challenge I enjoy. I love the process that builds up to being able to shave the thinnest of shavings, or the exertion needed to move or manipulate large pieces of metal. It isn’t easy, and I love it.