Large Worry Stone, 2023 Papier-mâché (toilet paper, PVA, flour, newsprint, water), joint compound, acrylic paint, polyurethane Anxious? Concerned? Feeling fine but certain that the next wave of worry is imminent? While studying art in Glasgow, Scotland, I began carrying a worry stone with me wherever I went. Whether walking to the studio or heading to the pub, I kept a small, milky stone in my pocket and rubbed it as I navigated gray cross-walks and the aisles of Tesco. Now, years later, living worlds away in the contrasting climate and culture of Southern California, I find comfort in the rocks and boulders that sit in my backyard. I hike amongst them and their seemingly imperturbable presence inspires this growing collection that I affectionately call Worry Stones. Similar to the series A·BOD·E, I craft each piece out of numerous thin layers of papier mâché and joint compound that I slowly build up and sand away until the surface resembles the well-worn stone that once lived in my coat pocket. Each piece is then hand painted with delicate layers of acrylic and finished with a coat of polyurethane for durability. Due to the nature of the medium, each Worry Stone is lighter than a rock of comparable size. Some are so light that holding them is like placing a hollow Pysanky egg in your hand, while others have a bit more heft. Most are somewhere in-between.
