Larry Merriman
Installation Art
Sculpture 2007-1992
Most of the sculptures I make stem from my desire to understand activities, events, and people that are part of daily life. Primarily, I use a mix of found materials, text, and images derived from my interaction with these activities, events, and people.
Part of Sumter, SC "Accessibility Installation." At 42" in diameter, this hollow arch form is 11' high, spans 22' and represents about two year's of recycled packaging produced by my family of four. View 1 of 4
The arch was simply food packaging hot glued together and lasted about a year before it collapsed (possibly with help from vandals). View 2 of 4
"Harp" and "Breakfast for Atlas" View 3 of 4
Part of "Accessibility" installation. Torn food packaging formed into balls and perched on bamboo arches. Arches and balls are held in place with guy ropes and wires. Approx. 8' W x 5' H x 25' L View 4 of 4
A number of years ago, I salvaged flooring from an old house intending to use it to floor my unfinished attic. It never happened. Recognizing that they had potential as material for art, I also saved the nails I pulled from that flooring. View 1 of 6
My frustration with the unfinished project, and the scene from Cortazar's novel, "Hopscotch," inspired “Nailed”. When his protagonist is asked why he is straightening nails, he says, "...It's my idea that as long as I have straight nails, I'll know what to use them for." A pecan branch, sculpted into the shape of a bent nail, stands on top of the nail shaped pedestal, and an actual nail is embedded the sculpted nail. View 3 of 6
Cortazar's protagonist, Oliviera, was actually straightening nails in an extremely hot attic, in the summer, and persisted by imagining that it was the opposite, very cold. View 4 of 6
In addition to this pile of bent nails, another pile is shaped around the base of the skinny pedestal and mimics the head of a nail. View 5 of 6
Made with salvaged flooring and vent grates, from the same house, four stacks of bent nails support a cement block. View 2 of 6
The towers seen here are made from carefully stacked nails. Exacting balance is all that holds them together. Once the heavy cement block was carefully placed, the towers became rigid and easily supported my weight. View 6 of 6
2005: Installation view Shoes, fountain, wood, food packaging, lights, and mixed media. View 1 of 6
All of my children's shoes from first pairs through last pairs (1990 through 2004) and fountain. View 2 of 6
Milk container, split tree branch, wood shelf and light. View 3 of 6
Plastic milk container, wood, and light. View 4 of 6
Plywood, milk caps, and lights. View 5 of 6
Yogurt containers and lights. View 6 of 6
Installation for SC Triennial Exhibition: bottle and jar caps (from 15 years of food consumption by my family), plow shares, and found hand forged chain. Approx. 12' W (at base) x 14' H View 1 of 3
View 2 of 3
One of the found plowshares placed at the end of each rope of caps. View 3 of 3
A complex form, this bulging quarter sphere has a hollow core that transforms into an extension on the far side: food packaging, cardboard, and hot glue. Approx. 7.5 W x 4' H x 6' D.
Installation for SC Triennial Exhibition: food packaging, cardboard, and hot glue. Sphere is approx. 8' in dia. and cones (another on opposite facing wall) are approx. 8' in dia.
Sow's Ear is suspended, cantilever, from the wall so that it hovers above the floor,Cardboard boxes & hot glue. 11x12x10'.
A ring of recycled (folded) exhibition posters was nailed to the gallery wall and, using hot glue, the form was built out from that ring with additional posters. Approx. 6' in dia. by 2.5' deep. View 1 of 2
View 2 of 2