This paper is an experiment using digital video to locate and identify the abstract in everyday life and nature. The abstract moment occurs when the image that is captured by video loses its connection with the original context, allowing the images to be viewed in an entirely new way. The abstract moment is initiated by a transformative instant, that instant in which perception is altered and the viewer sees the intended content of composition of light and sound. The project contains four digital videos that record the artist's progress and interests.

Work of art in spider wood, aquarium plants, 3d prints by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in spider wood, aquarium plants, 3d prints by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in spider wood, aquarium plants, 3d prints by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in spider wood, aquarium plants, 3d prints by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

I look at the world as a sculptor, examining physical constructs and implied meanings. My current research developed from my earlier studies of “containment” or, more specifically, “encapsulation,” creating visual, often physical, boundaries around selected content. Encapsulation confers a more active role than “containment”, a process rather than a result. This idea speaks to the issues of form, and asks the viewer to question the outside “shape of the form” in relation to the inside shape and content. My work focuses on exposed interior spaces and forms, allowing the viewer to enter the space physically as well as mentally and psychologically. Built in a large enough scale, the viewer could actually become the content. The sculpture’s interpretation revolves around the seen as well as the unseen. I built this duality into my work by using transparent and opaque materials. I also implemented small diameter stainless steel rod along with the transparent and opaque vinyl to reduce forms to their respective shapes and volumes. This approach allowed me to clean the “slate” of an object’s collective meaning and context, adapting it to the intent of my work.

Artist Statement from the MFA Exhibition: "Through my art I strive to raise awareness towards the protection of the ocean. Plastic pollution, over-fishing, species extinction, and nuclear waste are some of the problems I symbolize in order to create conversations around the issues and do my part in starting a wave of change. The ocean is one interconnected circulatory system for our plane,t so anywhere that humans are abusing the oceans, it affects us all. I hope to remind people of the sacredness of the sea in order to help renew our reverence and respect for it."

Work of art of Performance by artist Traci O’Dwyer as part of a 2020 MFA Exhibition, entitled "Of My Own Making".

Work of art of crinoline, white upholstery string by artist Traci O’Dwyer as part of a 2020 MFA Exhibition, entitled "Of My Own Making".

Works of art on image transfer onto hand-formed bricks by artist Kaitlin West as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled Constructed Self in the Cora Stafford Gallery South, 1201 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX 76201, from April 6 to 9, 2022.

Works of art on image transfer onto hand-formed bricks by artist Kaitlin West as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled Constructed Self in the Cora Stafford Gallery South, 1201 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX 76201, from April 6 to 9, 2022.

Works of art on image transfer onto hand-formed bricks by artist Kaitlin West as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled Constructed Self in the Cora Stafford Gallery South, 1201 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX 76201, from April 6 to 9, 2022.

Works of art on image transfer onto hand-formed bricks by artist Kaitlin West as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled Constructed Self in the Cora Stafford Gallery South, 1201 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX 76201, from April 6 to 9, 2022.

Work of art on Archivable Inkjet Print, framed by artist Emily Potts as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled "Healing & Reassembling" in the the Cora Stafford Gallery South, 1201 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX 76201, from March 2 to March 5, 2022.

Work of art (still image), by artist Morgan Grasham as part of her 2020 exhibition, entitled "Memory Beast".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in driftwood, aquarium plants, 3d prints, bronze by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art in mixed media by artist Russell Anderson as part of his 2021 exhibition, entitled "Modified Aesthetics on an Inner Space".

Work of art using wood decorated with metal rods by artist Philip F. Samson as part of a 2022 MFA exhibition, entitled "Confluence" in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building Atrium on the main campus of the University of North Texas from April 4 to April 14, 2022.

Work of art in Ceramic Sculpture by artist Amy Wachal as part of a 2019 MFA Exhibition, entitled "Angelfish Prayers". Coral reefs around the world are dying at an unprecedented rate. Once the coral is dead, the reefs will also die and erode, destroying important marine life spawning and feeding grounds.Chasing Coral is a documentary that inspired this work. The documentary captures visual evidence of coral bleaching, and goes into depth about its causes. Watch it on Netflix.