Angie Babb
School of Art + Design, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina USA, January 2019
Where are you from?
Brevard, North Carolina
Describe your object? (shape, material, etc.)
This object is one in a series of original small light sculptures created by my closest friend, Jonathan Twomey. He sometimes calls these sculptures “MacGuffin Reactors” (after the plot devices used in films with little or no narrative explanation), but we often refer to them as “glowies” (because, you know, they glow). It is small, less than 6” long, and fits in the palm of my hand. Its materials include brass, a glass dome, an LED light, blue phosphorescent powder, other metals, and a microprocessor for controlling the fade pattern of the LED light. Jonathan made this sculpture at his home in the Nantahala Gorge, near Bryson City, NC.
Where is your object from?
I’m not sure exactly where it came from.
How is your object meaningful to you?
This “glowy” is meaningful to me because it is a symbol of a nearly lifelong friendship, because it was designed specifically for me as a gift from Jonathan, and because I admire and respect the thought process and innovation required to make it both beautiful and functional.
How do you see yourself as an artist in your community?
My goal is to use my art to build meaningful relationships, educate more privileged members of my community about issues faced by other community members who may be overlooked, misunderstood, disadvantaged or oppressed in some way, and to learn and tell the stories of those around me.
I want to use my art to build bridges and open dialogues and understanding between my culture and other cultures, and as a means of learning more about these cultures so that my personal artistic expression is informed by multiple, global perspectives.
What is your hope for the future?
I hope to become a K-12 art teacher, and to continue growing as an artist, designer, writer and involved citizen.
