Reception: Thursday, Nov. 7 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
The immersive installation Unsteady Vanishing Points is a playful improvisation on a common perspective tool. A vanishing point describes the moment of disappearance in the rendering of a space. These points are small, decisive and fixed; yet somehow, they describe everything we cannot see. In this installation, materials converge to create vanishing points that multiply and shift. Found materials transform into abstract gestures that create new ways of seeing. This place of exploration turns the mind’s eye outward to reflect on the vanishing points we place on materials in our everyday environment.
Stensberg’s background as a performing musician ignited her exploration of how materials resonate through time and space. Utilizing easily overlooked materials such as pine needles, twigs, light, plastic, textiles and sound, Stensberg’s work explores alternative experiences of these everyday materials, challenging their perception as dead or inanimate. These materials are carefully layered, painted and sewn into new forms. Light is choreographed around sculptural marks, using their shadows to paint echoes across the walls and floors. This improvisational way of working blurs boundaries between disciplines of painting, sculpture, installation and time-based media. The final installation becomes a place of contemplation and wonder, as explorers suspend their disbelief while walking through the work. Rhythms of small stitches and hand-painted ribbon encourage viewers to experience the work closely and intimately. These spaces have been sites of gathering, musical performances, and guided meditations.
Stensberg grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Born into a musical family, Stensberg pursued dual paths in classical music and visual art. While in Eau Claire she balanced orchestra and chamber music performances while developing a language in abstract painting. Stensberg completed her Master of Fine Arts degree at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Her practice is increasingly experimental; her interest in the intersection of images, sound, and time led her to video work and installation. She is currently based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
