Ceremonial Urns

Times like 2020 seem unprecedented with a global pandemic; yet, humans have experienced times like these before. We have persevered through loss; we have gained stamina, coped with change, and found resilience. Nonetheless, living with so many endings is the quintessential human dilemma; how do we capture momentum and continue moving forward? The human condition of loss and the search for meaning during hardship is common. Reflecting on these themes, an iconic form that best represents my thoughts, is the urn. It may be described as having a rounded body that sits on a pedestal, sometimes lidded, and ornately decorated. However, in general terms, I believe an urn is defined by its use and purpose rather than its form.

In one context, it’s a funerary vessel, a living symbol of remembrance, allowing the mourner to be present with the loved ones’ remains.

In another context, an urn is a large open vase used for flowers and plant life, which ornately displays nature’s beauty.

Meanwhile, in a third context, an urn (tea/coffee urn) is a hot beverage dispenser, which provides nourishment in a communal space.

While urns have functional and practical uses, they carry meaning and significance. They are ceremonial and based in ritual. They hold an elevated status to commemorate an event, a space, a person. It’s an ornate object on display. Throughout history, we have documented our reality through symbols. Like the buried clay, Venus of Dolni Vestonice, to the graffiti on the passing train car, visual expression is a means to preserve our experiences in a specific time. Therefore, I wish to play with the urn as a collective symbol to talk about death, life, and sustenance.

This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Tri-County Arts Council.