Autumn T. Thomas
Dark Side of the Moon
Autumn T. Thomas
Dark Side of the Moon, 2019
Wood, Copper, Cement, Resin
72″ x 48″ x 12″
On view on the Dairy’s Palmer Terrace:
June – September
Dark Side of the Moon is an Afrofuturistic self-portrait and a reflection of the ways in which I shield my beauty from the world. In the shape of a waning crescent moon, this piece presents its black metal casing upward, as protection from the elements. The cuts in the wood are the experiences, triumphs and losses, and intricacies of self. These details remains illuminated by the sun but are indistinguishable unless the viewer is close enough to see.
Please reach out to Curator of Visual Arts Drew Austin (drew@thedairy.org) with inquires about purchasing or commissioning custom sculptural work.
Autumn T. Thomas (b. 1978) is an interdisciplinary artist currently working in wood sculpture. Her work challenges the boundaries of visual literacy: hundreds of cuts placed into the wood transforms it into soft, twisting forms, mimicking the endurance required to thrive amidst the oppression and marginalization of women of color; each cut represents a time in which Thomas felt cut down by society. Minimal in design,
Thomas’ work personifies analogous, brown bodies as whispering forms of subversion, affecting prejudice by way of perception and visual literacy.
Thomas is sponsored by Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator and National Performance Network. She received her MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia in 2017 and her BFA in Visual Communication from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. She lives and works in Denver, CO.
| My studio in Denver feels most like home. |
I am a Libra – it matters most when talking about the positive traits of Libras, not so much when talking about the traits that appear to be negative. I don’t put much stock in knowing others’ signs – I think it gives a false sense of “knowing”.
I have several [pieces of} media that influence me. Youtube videos of people doing any woodworking projects will grab my attention. I also find inspiration in literature of the speculative fiction genre. I listen to the podcast “Levar Burton Reads” for short stories. Two albums continue to inspire me: Beyonce’s “The Lion King: The Gift” and Clipping’s “Splendor & Mystery”. I also love any music by Romare, Floating Points and Kaytranada.
I have a lot of favorite creatives that span different media. My favorite is Wangetchi Mutu, followed by Octavia Butler. I love Martin Puryear and Rene Magritte, Wesley Clark, dancer Lil’ Buck, Prince. The list goes on and on.
One habit I have developed is listening to house music or EDM when I am sanding or using the table saw/bandsaw for an extended amount of time. I’ve found that instrumental music helps me to zone in and connect with the material I am working on. My favorite house mixes come from a podcast called Release Yourself by DJ Roger Sanchez.
My favorite tool of late is an angle grinder with a 80-grit flap disc. I do a lot of sanding – my least favorite activity – and the angle grinder makes sanding a breeze!
