ABOUT
Nikki Farrand Rayburn received an MFA in Craft/Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013 and a BFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Maine College of Art in 2011. Her work embraces traditional craft techniques, with training in woodworking, textiles, and basketry construction, and aims to honor the laborious and physical nature of one’s making practice. Nikki has exhibited her work extensively throughout the United States, and has work included in multiple permanent collections including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, VA. She currently serves as Exhibitions Coordinator and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Woodworking and Furniture Design Department at Maine College of Art.
STATEMENT
There is always a moment, within the act of work, when the decision comes into question. The mind is aware of the goal, seeking out the destination, but the body brings the reality of the task to light - at first whispering its doubts, then speaking at full volume. The physical intensity of the creation of my work enlivens this debate between the consciousness of my intellect and the limitations of my being.
I find comfort in the repetition of a single act, and revel in the moment of frustration when the task at hand is overwhelming, embracing the tangibility of the weight of the actions on my body. Regarding process as a quality of equal value to the final product, I utilize repetition of form and mark to highlight the labor of the maker, rendering myself a worker in service to the creation of a sculpted image.