Elise Vazelakis
Thirst (detail image), 2022
Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Plastic Bottles, Wire Mesh 120 x 60 x 72 in
This body of work, “Thirst,” was inspired by witnessing construction crews consuming and disposing of thousands of plastic water bottles. By incorporating this plastic, which would otherwise be abandoned, I became interested in data mapping my consumption. The single-use plastic in my art represents nostalgia, memory, and the passage of time, creating complex multilayered woven pieces. I encase the water bottles in reclaimed fiber to create these pieces, transforming what would otherwise be thrown out or recycled. By unraveling thrift store sweaters to make reclaimed yarn, I knit circular enclosures to house the water bottles. The unraveling of the sweaters is analogous to my life after the fire, as I make something new while destroying it at the same time, recreating my life in a different form.
Elise Vazelakis
Thirst, 2022
Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Plastic Bottles, Wire Mesh 120 x 60 x 72 in
This body of work, “Thirst,” was inspired by witnessing construction crews consuming and disposing of thousands of plastic water bottles. By incorporating this plastic, which would otherwise be abandoned, I became interested in data mapping my consumption. The single-use plastic in my art represents nostalgia, memory, and the passage of time, creating complex multilayered woven pieces. I encase the water bottles in reclaimed fiber to create these pieces, transforming what would otherwise be thrown out or recycled. By unraveling thrift store sweaters to make reclaimed yarn, I knit circular enclosures to house the water bottles. The unraveling of the sweaters is analogous to my life after the fire, as I make something new while destroying it at the same time, recreating my life in a different form.
Elise Vazelakis
A Practical Dreamer, 2023
Plastic Packaging, thread, Rope 120 x 60 x 72 in
A Practical Dreamer centers on the creation of a plastic cloth made by piecing together packaging materials, and through this process, I examined my own consumption habits. The triangular pattern of the cloth is a tribute to Buckminster Fuller's ideas about efficiency and the value of doing more with less. His philosophy has profoundly impacted my creative work, particularly evident in my primary exhibition piece titled A Practical Dreamer. This piece draws inspiration from Fuller's geodesic dome and his emphasis on sustainability and maximizing resources. To create this work, I repurposed discarded plastic packaging to construct a large dome structure, which I inverted and suspended from the ceiling to evoke a womb form. This inversion subverts the traditional dome shape and centers the focus on feminist ideals.
Elise Vazelakis
Thirst02, 2022
Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Plastic Bottles, Wire Mesh 40 x 35 x 35 in
Vazelakis' artistic practice involves accumulating objects in her environment to document things left behind, giving them an alternative life as a record of her history and the consequences of the climate crisis. Her piece “Thirst” was inspired by the construction crews consuming and disposing of thousands of water bottles while rebuilding her home that was destroyed in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. To create this work, she collected hundreds of plastic water bottles left behind by the construction crews and knitted them with reclaimed yarn sourced from thrift store sweaters. Wire mesh was also used to create the structure of the piece. Through her use of repurposed materials, Vazelakis highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices and the impact of consumerism on the environment.
Elise Vazelakis
A Practical Dreamer, 2023
Plastic Packaging, thread, Rope 120 x 60 x 72 in
A Practical Dreamer centers on the creation of a plastic cloth made by piecing together packaging materials, and through this process, I examined my own consumption habits. The triangular pattern of the cloth is a tribute to Buckminster Fuller's ideas about efficiency and the value of doing more with less. His philosophy has profoundly impacted my creative work, particularly evident in my primary exhibition piece titled A Practical Dreamer. This piece draws inspiration from Fuller's geodesic dome and his emphasis on sustainability and maximizing resources. To create this work, I repurposed discarded plastic packaging to construct a large dome structure, which I inverted and suspended from the ceiling to evoke a womb form. This inversion subverts the traditional dome shape and centers the focus on feminist ideals.
Elise Vazelakis
Thirst02 detail, 2022
Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Plastic Bottles, Wire Mesh 40 x 35 x 35 in
Vazelakis' artistic practice involves accumulating objects in her environment as a way of documenting things left behind, giving them an alternative life as a record of her history and the consequences of the climate crisis. Her piece “Thirst” was inspired by the construction crews consuming and disposing of thousands of water bottles while rebuilding her home that was destroyed in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. To create this work, she collected hundreds of plastic water bottles left behind by the construction crews and knitted them with reclaimed yarn sourced from thrift store sweaters. Wire mesh was also used to create the structure of the piece. Through her use of repurposed materials, Vazelakis highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices and the impact of consumerism on the environment.
Elise Vazelakis
Thirst02, 2022
Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Plastic Bottles, Wire Mesh 40H x 35W x 35D inches
Vazelakis' artistic practice involves accumulating objects in her environment as a way of documenting things left behind, giving them an alternative life as a record of her history and the consequences of the climate crisis. Her piece “Thirst” was inspired by the construction crews consuming and disposing of thousands of water bottles while rebuilding her home that was destroyed in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. To create this work, she collected hundreds of plastic water bottles left behind by the construction crews and knitted them with reclaimed yarn sourced from thrift store sweaters. Wire mesh was also used to create the structure of the piece. Through her use of repurposed materials, Vazelakis highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices and the impact of consumerism on the environment.
Elise Vazelakis
Love is Metaphysical Gravity, 2023
Bubble Wrap, Grocery Store Vegetable Bags, Shipping Bubble Bags 60x60 inches
Love is Metaphysical Gravity discarded materials and repurposing techniques which aligned with my passion for upcycling and aimed to address the harmful environmental impact of consumerism and waste. By utilizing plastic packing materials, and packaging, the potential of discarded materials, when given a second life, was highlighted. This work aims to raise awareness of the need for sustainable practices and promote a more responsible approach to waste management.
Elise Vazelakis
Love is Metaphysical Gravity, 2023
Plastic Water Bottles, Plastic Packaging, monofilament wire, Reclaimed Yarn from Thrift Store Sweater, Wire Mesh, Rope, 20x20 feet
Love is Metaphysical Gravity, explores the concept of material transformation and the potential of discarded objects. The repurposing of detritus into art examines the effects of excessive materialism and consumerism fueled by capitalism. In this exhibition, I reflect on my buying habits and consider the transformative potential of art as a force for environmental awareness. After experiencing the impact of the climate crisis firsthand, I felt compelled to create artwork inspired by this event. In 2018, the Woolsey Fire destroyed my home and became the impetus for making the textile sculptures in the exhibition. The work reconfigures water bottles and packaging materials, highlighting the potential of art to shape our relationship with the material world and initiate discussions about our responsibility in mitigating the climate crisis. Ecofeminism is a critical lens through which I view my artwork and the impact I have on the environment. Repurposing items that are usually thrown out, my practice aligns with values of sustainability, community, and respect for the natural world. Through my creative process, I aim to challenge the systems prioritizing profit over the planet's health and its inhabitants. Love is Metaphysical Gravity invites viewers to consider art's transformative power and potential to create a more sustainable future. Reconfiguring discarded materials into art is a way for me to initiate a discourse about the environmental impact of consumerism and capitalism. Additionally, my work engages with the critical perspective of ecofeminism, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and nature and advocates for a more just and equitable society. Ultimately, I seek to inspire change and encourage a more mindful relationship with the material world by contemplating purchasing behavior and its impact on our planet.
