Rubber Arms
Jennifer Thoreson, Multidisciplinary Artist

Rubber Arms, From the series Testament, 16”x20”, Pigment Ink on Fiber Rag, 2014

Like the tiny casts in Little Baby, the sculptures in this photograph are constructed with latex rubber. While experimenting with this material, I found that I could roll out a thin layer of liquid latex onto a cement floor with a paint roller. Once cured, this process created a fragile, life-like skin that could be peeled away from the floor and wrapped around a figure. The arm extensions in this photograph are two heavy plaster structures covered in delicate rubber skin. Their enormous weight completely immobilized the wearer, pointing to emotional exhaustion and absolute dependence.