Artist Jaydan Moore’s found platter artwork now on view at MC
A student views one of Jaydan Moore’s found platter artworks.
March 5, 2019
The art exhibit “Vestiges” is currently on view in the Sarah Silberman Gallery. The artist, Jaydan Moore, spoke last week about his work.
The artwork in “Vestiges” is made from found objects — silver-plated platters. Moore creates sculptures of new platters by cutting up and then joining pieces of multiple platters. Other artworks in the exhibition are prints of the patterns on the platters.
Moore uses found platters in his artwork. “I can find them anywhere,” he said. He found one platter that had been run over by a truck in a junkyard. He finds other platters at thrift stores or on eBay.
He also takes donations of platters — people can send him their platters and he will create a print of its pattern for them. In addition to platters, Moore also collects teapots and other commemorative objects.
The patinas show the wear and tear and care or lack thereof for each platter, Moore said. For inspiration, he looks at bacterial specimens while in his studio, he said.
He said that objects occupy physical space but they can also have additional, sentimental value. Moore’s definition of function is broad — a platter’s function can be to hold memories as opposed to food, he said. He doesn’t know much about the context or personal value of the platters he finds and uses, he said.
Moore’s other work with platters includes making repairs to where he lives from platter materials. He has replaced a shingle and a door push plate with pieces of platters. He has also created a table leaf out of materials from platters.
Moore estimated that he has worked with approximately 400 or 500 platters and 100 teapots. He said that people have donated more platters to him than he expected. Once, he bought a platter that he thought was amazing from eBay but it turned out to be much smaller than he anticipated, he said.
Moore said he wants to work more with chain mail and weaving in the future. He also said he wants to work with other materials like plastic and wood and other domestic objects, like tables and chairs.
“I’m really excited about his work,” said Tai Dolan, a student who attended the artist talk. She said that some of the artworks have movement to them, like they’re alive. She said that she liked the use of found objects and thought about how time-consuming the work is to create.
The Sarah Silberman Gallery, located in the Art Building, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the art department’s website. The “Vestiges” exhibit will be on view until March 22
