Hi'may Rivera

We are a culture of irresponsible consumerism, this cycle of instant gratification carries with it a lot of waste mostly centered around fossil fuels We drive everywhere, we buy impulsively at big box stores, single serving and fast food products, these items not only have a short life span, they come in excessive amounts of packaging that equals more and more ...junk.

My artistic process is constantly "diving" into this phenomenon of material consumption, and the ecological issues that come with it. Using bicycle as a sole means of transportation, I am moving from point A to B to C, via the alleyways. Along the way I see the deeper truth of my town, and how it is a symptom of this mass movement in culture. This process allows me to glean from the wreckage of pop culture, and find the inspiration for my next series of ideas. I then use a bike trailer to transport my future works back to the workspace When the materials arrive at the workspace, their reincarnation unfolds into a series of works resembling newspaper distribution boxes one commonly sees on their downtown street corner.

Mostly made of plastic and/or wood, these pieces often contain a kinetic dreamscape inside the display. This other realm (usually activated by a lever, drawer handle, a door, a knob, etc), can either be the expansion and contraction of doors and drawers, or an animated diorama consisting of a playful commentary on Pop culture. Continually adding to my high carbon credit report, I move finished pieces back downtown via "pedal power". Placing them amongst the forest of newspaper distribution boxes, they present themselves in a challenging way to the average pedestrian. The busy city life keeps people culturally conditioned to stay focused on their destination, hence many don't see everything in the surrounding urban environment. When one does finally witness the work, they are presented with the first social taboo of viewing art- "do not touch!" Once their curiosity draws them closer, their first tactile experience is quite cautious, as they are unsure if they will damage it. As they further investigate with uncertainty, they slowly stumble upon the "buttons". If/when the viewer finally gives themselves permission to engage, they discover a world that is exciting, yet, challenging at the same time. Many walk away in question, few allow themselves to enjoy the experience and take it with them. Traffic from all walks leave quite a mark on the boxes.

These art pieces experience atrophy from use, whether it is a result of the experiment in materials, heavy usage from interaction, or vandalism, the boxes break down and are in need of constant maintenance. Their life span is an average of two to four months, they then return to the workspace. Upon re-entry, they are either repaired or placed into what I call the "compost" bin. This "rethinking" seems to be the basis for my creative practice. Not only am I "repurposing the refuse", I am rethinking old ideas. The composted items evolve by: receiving new dioramas, expanding the kinetics, marrying with others, and on and on...