2005
84” x 9”
Liquid vinyl sleeve, poly-spandex mesh cord, cotton thread sutures, acrylic, wood.
Cord
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Identity
Cord
This singular, tall rectangular sculpture serves as an articulation of formal and conceptual concerns, intended for installation leaning against a wall and resting on the floor. Its shape establishes a dialogue with microscopic imagery, formally influenced by the “lanes” visible on genetic microscopy gel slides.
The work’s materiality is defined by a skin-like, translucent liquid vinyl sleeve loosely sheathing a pale, painted wood frame. The absence of a backing allows the interior light and the color of the wall behind it to permeate the piece. The composition is vertically bisected by a flesh-toned poly-spandex cord, sewn with cotton thread sutures, creating a tactile and psychological tension. Radtke abandoned traditional mark-making, positing the physical piece as the complete gesture of a mark.
Collection:
Collection of Kaytie Johnson, curator, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN