Tristan Crum

BFA Sculpture

Artist Website: tristancrum.com

ARTIST STATEMENT: This large-scale sculpture was originally intended for science building at GMU and consists of a life-sized steel dinosaur skeleton stepping up onto a log in a dramatic pose. The dinosaur I've chosen is a Deinonychus, a medium sized raptor that has an imposing presence and elegant form that inspired the dinosaur renaissance of the mid twentieth century that changed people's conception of dinosaurs from slow, dumb, giant lizards, to swift and agile active animals. Ever since I was a child, I have been making things that involved my interests and curiosities starting with drawings and then paper sculptures mainly focusing on dinosaurs and space exploration. In middle and high school, I got involved with painting and ceramics. It wasn't until relatively recently after my girlfriend introduced me to dungeons and dragons and I took on a job as a contractor's assistant working with metal fabrication that I got more interested in medieval lore and fantasy which as inspired me to delve into the world of wood craft and metal work. It was a long prosses getting to where I am now gaining new abilities and experiencing many failures along the way, and I am sure that I will have many more to come. But I enjoy designing and making things so much that now I welcome my failures as learning experiences and look forward to gaining the knowledge that I can from them. After a couple years making swords, armor and shields among other things to sell at festivals and online, I've really come to enjoy the look on people's faces when they hold one of my pieces or wield a blade that I made with my own two hands. It's nice to see my creative efforts manifested and bring joy and wonder to others. I hope after graduation from GMU I will be able to continue my craft on the side to the point where I hone my skills and am able to make it my full-time profession. As to whether or not my “art” will end up in a gallery I'm doubtful, I don’t think the things I make belong in the contemporary art world, they belong to normal everyday people, to children (maybe not the swords), displayed on walls in one's home or in the hands of someone who would truly appreciate them for what they are.