Sculptures / One by One
Discarded traffic delineator bottom (rubber), dressmaker pins
One by One #1: 16 in (h) x 16 in (w) x 3 in (d), One by One #2: 18 in (h) x 18 in (w) x 2 in (d)
One by One #3: 16 in (h) x 16 in (w) x 3 in (d), One by One #4: 35 in diameter
2121 -
During the early months of the pandemic, I instinctively collected abandoned traffic cone bases while walking through my neighborhood. Cleaning each piece by hand created a connection with these humble, overlooked objects. Their resilience and stubborn perseverance reflected my own search for belonging as an immigrant finding my place in a new society.
Hammering dressmaker pins into the rubber surface one by one, responding to moments of resistance, became a soothing and meditative process. Through repetition, the act developed its own rhythm, allowing patterns to emerge. The contrast between the metal pins and black rubber reminded me of the cedar forests in my hometown in Japan, enduring the long winter months.
RedLine Contemporary Art Center, Denver CO, 2021
Littleton Museum, Littleton CO, 2023
Space Gallery, Denver CO, 2024
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada CO, 2025
Photo (except detail images): Wes Magyar
