Lucy Gonzalez

Architecture major, Environmental Studies minor

My art seeks to explore the intricate dynamics between humans and nature. I work with natural, repurposed, and recycled materials. Repurposing materials embodies both resourcefulness and reverence for the tangible. Each piece serves as a reflection of my personal journey, although this narrative is not essential for interpreting the broader message conveyed.

In my recent project, I explored cardboard as a medium. This resulted in structural interpretations of cardboard car parts. Cardboard transcends its utilitarian origins, becoming a vessel for collective narratives, traversing between creation and consumption. These sculptures evoke a sense of nostalgia while prompting contemplation on our interconnectedness with nature and each other.

Not a Mechanic

repurposed cardboard

Jewett Gallery

several white pedestals in the center of a gallery space, with brown cardboard car parts arrayed around and on top of them

Not a Mechanic is a studio project that reimagines the essence of automobiles through sculptural interpretation. Utilizing repurposed cardboard, this installation challenges the conventional perception of cars as mere machines, exploring their multifaceted role within contemporary society.

Within their forms lie narratives of economic disparity, the challenges that come with immigrating, the realities of aging, and familial issues confronting societal constructs with unwavering honesty. The pieces form an enigmatic puzzle, reflecting the complexities of our relationship with ourselves and society through automobiles. Amidst these themes of struggle, the car emerges as a symbol of individuality and aspiration. Through sculpture, I explore the depths of self-discovery, using art as a channel for introspection and understanding.

As a whole, these sculptural fragments evoke a sense of longing and frustration, mirroring the feeling of being unable to reach one's destination. In confronting the impossibility of fully assembling the car, viewers are left with the question: Can one truly "get to where you're going"? Not a Mechanic offers a unique opportunity to engage with the societal significance of cars while encouraging reflection on the interconnectedness of mobility, identity, and progress.

cardboard licence plate upright on a small stand; the word 'Mind' is where a state would be and the word 'STUCK' is where the plate numbers would be

cardboard steering wheel with the word 'Sleep' on the center

cardboard sculpture of a car radio upright on top of a white pedestal

close up on a brown and white cardboard sculpture of a car seat belt

brown and white cardboard sculpture of a car car propped up on top of a white pedestal

a number of cardboard sculptures of car parts, including car door, wheel, and seat, arrayed on and around a few white pedestals at the center of a gallery space

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