PROJECT 3

INHABIT
For Project 3, students each have use of a small gallery space on the second floor of the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center for a week. Every week we end their time with a critique, and the space is passed to the next student. The space measures 16' long by 8' tall and just under 3' deep. It is fronted by a 3-paned sliding glass door.

Week 8: Rebecca Nimmo; "Genesis;" materials: New Testaments, Bibles, pen, tape, nails

I grew up in a rural Protestant home. I sang in the church choir. I performed in over a dozen Christmas plays (written by my father specifically for the church we attended). I was Historian and Secretary for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I denied evolution and earnestly believed that Noah’s ark was large enough to fit two of every single species.

When I came to college, my world turned upside down. I began learning about different cultures, folklore, and evolution. My worldview was shattered. Learning about geologic time and stratigraphy, seeing the amazing continuity in the hominid fossil record…I was torn apart.

Soon, “home” became this weird time warp where my brother was attending seminary and my mom was scoffing at articles about the classroom battle between evolution and creative design. I couldn’t reconcile these two disparate sides of the equation; I was evolving—becoming a new creature.

This piece represents that duality and my eventual abandonment of religion. In many ways this piece, which contains personal artifacts from my life, is the culmination of that internal struggle. By creating something positive out of this trying experience, I am finding peace.