Garth Borovicka

Artist Bio

I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2002 with at BFA in Photography. My senior thesis was about documenting objects and the personal stories connected to them. I have spent the last decade self-employed learning the ropes of business by trial and error. I started a delivery company with a 1986 Ford Econoline van I bought in California on a credit card and let art take a back seat while I found my footing. Now, ten years later, I find that the lessons I learned at RISD and as a self-taught businessman have made me the artist I am today.

I am lucky to have come from a long line of tinkerers and collectors, who have passed on skills, tools and inspiration.  I see my place as an artist comparable to that of an alchemist; I am working to transform raw materials into objects of desire, items worthy of becoming heirlooms. In business there is the concept of value added, which is now thrown around in conversation simply as “value add.” “Value add” is the goal of our lives, to have our actions equal more than the effort we put into it. It is such a difficult goal to achieve – it takes hard work, luck and a bit of blind faith, much like alchemy.

About my work

I make works that are visually appealing and conceptually deep. I am inspired by science, nature and the objects in my life; my work is my personal connection to history. From source materials to the tools that have been handed down to me, working as an artist makes me feel connected to my own family history, the history of making and the world around me.

Heirlooms

I strive to make heirlooms, handmade items of quality that will be passed on to future generations. I am conscious of construction and quality creating objects that feel timeless.

My boxes are inspired by boxes created by my great grandfather from materials found on the family farm. I make boxes using found materials and tools passed down from both sides of my family. I often use a numbering stamp that belonged to my grandfather; he used it in his TV repair business, I use it to sequence editions. I see finding the materials and inheriting tools as chance but also consider them part of my artistic process. The boxes are my connection to my family's history and the tradition of making heirlooms – I aim to keep this tradition alive.

Science and Nature works

I enjoy thinking about ways to express scientific concepts, such as the vastness of the universe or how the earth beneath my feet was formed. Much of my recent work has been a product of these mental exercises. I have been lucky enough to have taken many road trips across the United States that have inspired my “Of the Earth Series”.

In the “Of the Earth Series” the raw materials are transformed: growth rings in wood become sedimentary layers of the earth and model train scenery comes out of the basement and into the living space as an object of curiosity.  The series takes the form of bookends, wall panels and desktop utilities that are visually simple, yet depict conceptually rich ideas about the passage of time and formation of the Earth.

About my Process

I have watched every documentary that Netflix has to offer about geology and space. I have also watched the series “How It’s Made” multiple times. These obsessions inspire the content of my work as well as my working process. I often document my process of creation through videos, photography, time logs and writing; these documents often become works of their own. My process is as important as the finished product.  The process is actually the work and the product is the evidence. 

I feel that the process of being an artist is a process adding value to through action, when done right it can be the touch of Midas. Not only in monetary value but also in emotional response. Simply put, the goal is to inspire.

Garth Borovicka 2013

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