Barbara Rehus

Can’t. Breathe.

A serendipitous find of old puppet head molds led me down a path paved with frustration but also the occasional pleasant surprise as molds and materials yielded unpredictable and frequently transient results.  Even as my focus was largely concentrated on getting the materials to behave, puppets began to present themselves to me. At first it seemed that with their impossibly long arms and bodies or having been stuffed into boxes, these unfortunate creations would never be animate.  But, as time and work go on, newer pieces have avoided walls and are instead suspended.  They gently sway or turn as the air moves and seem pleased with that bit of freedom. Although it took me a while to realize it, the puppets refer to familiar themes of previous work: nurturance and familial relationships, misogyny and fear of loss. 

The most recent piece of the series, Sua culpa, a triptych of priests, recalls my education in a Catholic school, where children were taught by angry nuns and overseen by fearsome priests. The harsh lessons of school, often echoed at home, were incorporated into my childhood self and result in my grownup opinions on religion, abuse of authority, and negligence by those entrusted with care.

 

  • Identical boy and girl twins; Cast rubber, yarn, wood, paper, coloured pencil; 52"h x 16"w x 10"d; 2014 Identical boy and girl twins; Cast rubber, yarn, wood, paper, coloured pencil; 52"h x 16"w x 10"d; 2014
  • It's like that dream!; Cast rubber, yarn, wood; 58"h x 63"w x 32"d; 2015 It's like that dream!; Cast rubber, yarn, wood; 58"h x 63"w x 32"d; 2015
  • Bedazzle me; Cast rubber, found glass, costume jewelry, concrete, cardboard box; 10"h x 7"w x 7"d; 2014 Bedazzle me; Cast rubber, found glass, costume jewelry, concrete, cardboard box; 10"h x 7"w x 7"d; 2014
  • These cost a lot; Cast rubber, costume jewelry, wooden box, acrylics; 7"h x 6"w x 5"d; 2014 These cost a lot; Cast rubber, costume jewelry, wooden box, acrylics; 7"h x 6"w x 5"d; 2014
  • But what's its value?;  Cast rubber, fabric, paper, graphite, beads, old rosaries; 45"h x 9"w x 13"d; 2015 But what's its value?; Cast rubber, fabric, paper, graphite, beads, old rosaries; 45"h x 9"w x 13"d; 2015
  • Is this an island? (detail); Cast rubber, fabric, wire, thread; 63"h x 8"w x 12"d; 2012 Is this an island? (detail); Cast rubber, fabric, wire, thread; 63"h x 8"w x 12"d; 2012
  • One, then another, sometimes two (detail); Cast rubber, yarn; 68"h x 50"w x 3"d; 2012 One, then another, sometimes two (detail); Cast rubber, yarn; 68"h x 50"w x 3"d; 2012
  • May Child; Old doll and doll clothes, string, umbrella, fabric, glass flowers; 47"h x 30"w x 30"d; 2015 May Child; Old doll and doll clothes, string, umbrella, fabric, glass flowers; 47"h x 30"w x 30"d; 2015
  • Can't. Breathe.; Cast rubber, glass box; 18"h x 12"w x 4"d; 2012 Can't. Breathe.; Cast rubber, glass box; 18"h x 12"w x 4"d; 2012
  • Something's wrong. Arms too long? Hands too big? (detail); Cast rubber, yarn, paper, graphite; 60"h x 7"w x 3"d; 2012 Something's wrong. Arms too long? Hands too big? (detail); Cast rubber, yarn, paper, graphite; 60"h x 7"w x 3"d; 2012
  • Paper Doll; Cast rubber, old doll clothes and hanger, paper, coloured pencil, costume jewelry; 37"h x 12"w x 3"d; 2015 Paper Doll; Cast rubber, old doll clothes and hanger, paper, coloured pencil, costume jewelry; 37"h x 12"w x 3"d; 2015
  • Today I think I might look pretty; Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x 10"w x 14"d; 2015 Today I think I might look pretty; Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x 10"w x 1...
  • Today I think I might look pretty (detail); Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x 10"w x 14"d; 2015 Today I think I might look pretty (detail); Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x...
  • White men talking; Cast rubber, acrylic, wood, turntable; 12" round x 6.5"h; 2012 White men talking; Cast rubber, acrylic, wood, turntable; 12" round x 6.5"h; 2012
  • Yes, I have no banana; Cast rubber, yarn, fabric, buttons, screenprinted paper; installation 96"h x 100"w x 4"d; 2012 Yes, I have no banana; Cast rubber, yarn, fabric, buttons, screenprinted paper; installation 96"h x 100"w x 4"d; 2012
  • Not everything is funny; Cast rubber, wooden shelf; 5.75"h x 8.5"h x 5.5"d; 2012 Not everything is funny; Cast rubber, wooden shelf; 5.75"h x 8.5"h x 5.5"d; 2012
  • Well, yes and no; Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012 Well, yes and no; Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012
  • Well, yes and no (detail); Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012 Well, yes and no (detail); Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012
  • Sua culpa (1); Cast rubber, dowels, vintage lace and shoes, paper and graphite; 49"h x 19"w x 7"d; 2017 Sua culpa (1); Cast rubber, dowels, vintage lace and shoes, paper and graphite; 49"h x 19"w x 7"d; 2017
  • Sua culpa (2); Cast rubber, old chair parts, vintage fabric and jewelry, washi; 50"h x 19"w x 3.5"d; 2017 Sua culpa (2); Cast rubber, old chair parts, vintage fabric and jewelry, washi; 50"h x 19"w x 3.5"d; 2017
  • Sua culpa (3); Cast rubber, yarn, metal rings, vintage hardware; 58"h x 16"w x 16"d; 2018 Sua culpa (3); Cast rubber, yarn, metal rings, vintage hardware; 58"h x 16"w x 16"d; 2018
Identical boy and girl twins; Cast rubber, yarn, wood, paper, coloured pencil; 52"h x 16"w x 10"d; 2014

It's like that dream!; Cast rubber, yarn, wood; 58"h x 63"w x 32"d; 2015

 

Bedazzle me; Cast rubber, found glass, costume jewelry, concrete, cardboard box; 10"h x 7"w x 7"d; 2014

 

These cost a lot; Cast rubber, costume jewelry, wooden box, acrylics; 7"h x 6"w x 5"d; 2014

But what's its value?; Cast rubber, fabric, paper, graphite, beads, old rosaries; 45"h x 9"w x 13"d; 2015

Is this an island? (detail); Cast rubber, fabric, wire, thread; 63"h x 8"w x 12"d; 2012

One, then another, sometimes two (detail); Cast rubber, yarn; 68"h x 50"w x 3"d; 2012

May Child; Old doll and doll clothes, string, umbrella, fabric, glass flowers; 47"h x 30"w x 30"d; 2015

Can't. Breathe.; Cast rubber, glass box; 18"h x 12"w x 4"d; 2012

Something's wrong. Arms too long? Hands too big? (detail); Cast rubber, yarn, paper, graphite; 60"h x 7"w x 3"d; 2012

Paper Doll; Cast rubber, old doll clothes and hanger, paper, coloured pencil, costume jewelry; 37"h x 12"w x 3"d; 2015

Today I think I might look pretty; Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x 10"w x 14"d; 2015

Today I think I might look pretty (detail); Cast rubber, found mirror, beach glass, lace, paper, coloured pencil; 45"h x 10"w x 14"d; 2015

White men talking; Cast rubber, acrylic, wood, turntable; 12" round x 6.5"h; 2012

Yes, I have no banana; Cast rubber, yarn, fabric, buttons, screenprinted paper; installation 96"h x 100"w x 4"d; 2012

Not everything is funny; Cast rubber, wooden shelf; 5.75"h x 8.5"h x 5.5"d; 2012

Well, yes and no; Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012

Well, yes and no (detail); Cast rubber, wood, fabric, acrylic paint; 35"h x 17.75"w x 4.5"d; 2012

Sua culpa (1); Cast rubber, dowels, vintage lace and shoes, paper and graphite; 49"h x 19"w x 7"d; 2017

Sua culpa (2); Cast rubber, old chair parts, vintage fabric and jewelry, washi; 50"h x 19"w x 3.5"d; 2017

Sua culpa (3); Cast rubber, yarn, metal rings, vintage hardware; 58"h x 16"w x 16"d; 2018