Hannah Harvey: TRIAL & ERROR
“ I love transforming technological objects in order to play with the viewer’s preconceived notions of their forms and functions.”
2022 Artist-in-Residence at Missoula Public Library
Hannah displaying her laser-cut art pieces
How was your experience as an Open AIR Artist-in-Residence?
I came into this experience feeling fairly nervous, as this was my very first time doing an artist’s residency! The opportunity to devote so much time to my art-making was thrilling but also intimidating. Since I knew that I had a limited time in the space, I was eager to accomplish as much as I possibly could. However, within the first week, it became clear to me how important it was to SLOW DOWN and prioritize process over product. Although I was able to create a solid body of work during my time at MPL, the aspect that I enjoyed the most was the experimentation. Everyone involved really allowed me to feel like I had ownership of the MakerSpace, which was incredibly empowering. As someone who functions mostly in spaces that are not my own, this was such a great feeling.
Studio shot in the MPL MakerSpace
What was your research process during this time?
The Makerspace is home to several exciting machines and tools, such as 3D printers, a laser cutter, a 3D scanner, etc. Although these machines are fairly user-friendly, I ended up having to approach them in the same way that one might make a new friend– learning the basics, taking time to build connections, then diving deeper. The ways in which these technologies worked informed my creative process by imposing limitations while simultaneously allowing for play and tinkering. “Trial and Error” became commonplace, and even mistakes seemed like successes to me. Working in a space that is shared with the public was also extremely helpful. I learned many things simply by watching what projects other people were working on; it was inspiring to see someone come in with an idea sketched out on a piece of paper and leave with a finished product.
red flag (detail), latex paint on laser-cut wood, yarn, fabric, 2022.
What are you up to now (post Open AIR)?
I’m currently taking a bit of a break from “serious art-making” and indulging myself in things that I haven’t spent time on in a while–digital sketches, jewelry-making, crochet. I find that the wintertime encourages me to slow down. However, now that I’m armed with the knowledge of how to use the MakerSpace tools, I plan on returning soon to begin some new projects– something that wouldn't have happened if not for this residency.
miss communication (detail), switch plates and mixed media, 2022.
How would you describe your work?
Conceptually, my work centers around systems, arrangements, and relationships through the guise of technology and machinery. I love transforming technological objects in order to play with the viewer’s preconceived notions of their forms and functions. My hope is to spark the audience’s curiosity. What associations do we make based on color and texture? Is there aesthetic integrity to be found in softness, squishiness, sparkliness, and cuteness? Why do humans tend to assign emotions to inanimate objects? What qualities make an object recognizable? Lovable? I like to see technology and machinery as having a personality, and I often aim to examine the ways in which technology is just an extension of human-ness. I love the idea that technology can have human characteristics because it is a reflection of us and our characteristics. It has needs and errors and successes just like we do, on both a personal and universal level.
your mom thinks i’m good for you (detail), embroidery, 2022.
Tell us about your most recent solo exhibition?
This residency allowed me to take time to create work for my first solo exhibition, (in)compatible, at The University of Montana’s UC Gallery. (in)compatible was a playful reflection on the struggles, successes, and idiosyncrasies that we often encounter while building and maintaining relationships in a tech-savvy world. The awkward, wholesome, heartbreaking, and peculiar experience of being single and seeking a partner has become even more complex with the help of smartphones and dating apps. However, our desire to find (and define) compatibility remains the same. I focused on using the motif of one of the most compatible pairs of all- the plug and socket– as a spirited, non-threatening conduit (pun intended) for the unique yet universal pain and pleasure that we experience for the sake of knowing and loving others.
Hannah next to the laser cutter
To see more of Hannah’s work, visit her website www.misshannahharvey.com & check out her Instagram @misshannahharvey
