Hunt
Initially a maquette for a larger idea related to my MFA Thesis. Deer stands (or blinds) are a means to elevate the hunter out of the deer's field of vision, and give them unobstructed shooting lanes for an ethical kill.
After spending time with local hunters, it became clear to me that putting up a stand (or blind, the terminology is still unclear to me) is an informed decision. It can take years to understand the consistency of deer activity in a particular area.
So, this object now signifies a moment of connection, and a pivot, within my larger project related to white-tailed deer in New York. As I look at it now, maybe it reflects the fact that hunters are a "dying breed," with data showing that hunting license sales continue to decrease year after year. The deer itself, once celebrated as an equal, living being in North America, is now a pest or a symbol of white trash culture. The stand itself is made from red oak sourced from an arboretum in Stone Ridge, NY. Red oak is a seasonal food source for deer, supplying mast in late fall through early winter (the white oak nourishes them in early fall.)
