Structures, Systems, and Processes: Art by Patricia E. Rangel
Little Red Flags, cement, dirt, fence posts
Patricia E. Rangel is a California based artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation. In her practice, Patricia seeks to understand the structures, systems, and processes that underpin agriculture.
There’s a common theme of man-made constructions and processes in Patricia’s works, even though the artist tends to utilize materials that could appear in nature, such as soil and stone. I’m really appreciating the works in Patricia’s recent series, Conectado a Tierra. One work combines cement, ashes, and dirt from the site of a now-closed hospital in California. The wall-hanging artwork has an iconographic feel to it, with both material and shape contributing to a strong visual language.
Another work in the same series uses cement, dirt, and fence posts (among other materials). I like the way that Patricia is able to remove these materials from their expected contexts without severing that connection. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what Particia has been working on in recent years!
