Meet the Struggles

"The Struggles are the remnants of stuffed animals after being infused with porcelain slip and fired. They embody the acts of cremation, preservation, and transformation in subject, concept, and material. The name, Struggles, sounds like a familiar brand name and references the stuffed animal's path from found object to art object.

"As a Struggle, the stuffed animal’s nostalgic history is at once referenced and confronted. Ultimately its past must be set aside in order to accept its new state as a porcelain Struggle. Porcelain is a cold, hard, and fragile material that suggests elegance and preciousness. While handling is forbidden, placing it on a pedestal evokes new narratives beyond childhood memories.

"In the Struggles, animals appear whole or in part, often presented impersonating other animals or employing guises. Ironically, an animal appearing as itself in this context contributes to the questioning of its identity and motive. Although the Struggles include all animals, the majority are rabbits and bears. Bears are simple and deliberate, often acting as a friend, foe, or a foil to the cunning and dynamic rabbit. Throughout history and literature, rabbits embody a vast array of symbols and possess the ability to pass between the real and imaginary while still remaining true to their character, whichever one that may be.."

- Rob Tarbell, 2009

Rob Tarbell - Meet the Struggles gallery portfolio (.pdf, 635k)
Rob Tarbell - Selected Press, Publications, and Catalogs (.pdf, 9.7MB)
Rob Tarbell - Dallas Fine Arts Examiner (December 31, 2009)
Rob Tarbell - Dallas Observer (December 5, 2009)
Rob Tarbell - resume (.pdf, 119k)