Holly A. Senn - Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

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Holly A. Senn

Holly A. Senn: www.ryksenn.com

"Using discarded library books as my primary material, I create sculptures and installations in which I explore the life cycle of ideas--the organic, non-linear process in which thoughts have a genesis and then are disseminated, adopted or refuted, forgotten or referenced. My art investigations are inextricably intertwined with my part-time "day job" as a virtual reference librarian at an academic library where, while surrounded by books, I interact with patrons who prefer digital resources. As I cut, rip, soak, align, realign and glue, I reflect on each new generations’ collective erasure of some element of the past and its casting of new ideas into the future. My work is as ephemeral and fleeting as ideas committed to paper."

- Holly A. Senn

Describe your work as an artist: I create sculptures and installations in which I explore the life cycle of ideas—the organic process in which thoughts have a genesis and then are disseminated, forgotten or referenced.

Describe the importance of “community” to either you as a person or as an artist: As I cut, rip, realign and glue, I reflect on each new generations’ collective erasure of some element of the past and its casting of new ideas into the future.

What has been inspiration for you in your work: I’m inspired by the natural world and the intellectual world; botanical forms and my work as a librarian inform my investigations.

Describe the Tacoma/Pierce County art community: There is a rich network of outlets for exhibiting and viewing art, as well as a tremendous interest in art that crosses over typical generational divides.

How do you see the Tacoma/Pierce County art community changing: I hope that art continues to be broadly defined by the community and that the City will attract employers that seek highly creative people.