Carcass of Consumption by Jeff Erwin

Describing Art

The sculpture “Carcass of Consumption” by Jeff Erwin was on display in the Hatfield Gallery at Adams State University. The piece was part of the Grad Preview 2016 exhibition, its purpose of which was to showcase the grad students works from the fall semester. Jeff Erwin’s sculpture draws in the viewer with his unique use of cow rawhide, discarded consumer items, paint steel and chain.

The flesh-toned rawhide, which is hanging from a large partially rusted metal chain in the ceiling, is molded into a form somewhat resembling a piping bag used for icing or decorating desserts. This resemblance is emphasized by the rawhide being tilted at a decline as if the painted items on the floor beneath it were squeezed from the dead carcass. The pile of items laying underneath the flesh (A soda cup, hat, shoes, batteries, remote control, basketball, toy hat, etc.) have been painted a steel color.

This piece includes elements of line, unity, balance. The hanging rawhide is used to create a line that draws the eye towards the pile of painted items. The illusion of line