From the Curator’s Perspective: The Pivotal Moment In Which Paper Won The War

What will my opponent throw down? Will it be rock? No! Paper? Maybe. What should I put down? I know, definitely scissors. Wait, they are going to put rock, so I will throw paper. Your mind races and the exterior of your body remains calm, still in the moment.

Gus Frisbee illustrates the well-known game of rock, paper, scissors through everyday objects. The arrangement of these items causes the viewer’s eye to move in a spiral motion outward from the vibrantly colored pair of scissors. As the eye moves from the pop of orange, one begins to see highly rendered paper planes set against strongly cast shadows. Eventually, a rock can be seen laying in the curvature of a crumpled airplane. What does the juxtaposition of these items mean? Do you think one object is more important than another? Take a moment to observe the contents of this painting, and consider what rock-paper-scissors means to you.

Next time, what will you throw down?
-Daniel Kennington

For more information about this work, visit the artist’s submission. Visit this blogpost to learn how A Life, Still was curated by twelve college students in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Art. 

About this Curator

Daniel Kennington is the Art Education Guild President at East Carolina University, working towards a double major in BFA Art Education and BFA Studio Ceramics. He enjoys all aspects of ceramics and has recently
become more interested in Kiln Building and Wood firing. Daniel currently works with topographic imagery on ceramic forms of places he has been throughout his life. He also loves to travel, volunteer in the community as well as internationally, and hopes to be a hardworking Art Educator in the near future.