Isabelle Michaud at Pinchman’s

Artist Statement

During the pandemic, with disease and virus on my every thought, I became fascinated with arrangements of small natural objects to produce make-believe apothecary work surfaces. Small hand-built objects crafted with paper and natural clay paired with pressed leaves and flowers, sticks, a dead frog were arranged in organized piles of fantasized ingredients for imaginary bandages, prescriptions, and medications.  The objects rest on architect blueprints, craft paper, and copper. The arrangements can be thought of as performative tableaux, visual artifacts of healing, devoid of ego.

Each composition is imbued with intimate history alongside the gathered materials’ own history. The wrapped ear-shaped bandage is meant to indicate a form of heightened listening and a closing of wounds. The past three years have been a time meant for listening and responding to nature through acts of gratitude and healing.

The series of 10 small frames are intended to be viewed closely and intimately offering introspective moments.