Derek Sullivan: Field Works

Field Works started with walking. Walking is work in a field.

For Derek Sullivan, this fieldwork took place while on different sites: picking up and carrying small objects in his hands and pockets; standing in a field distracted by wandering thoughts; and while trying to fall asleep recalling previous walks in there-and-back-again detail.

In this exhibition, Sullivan brings together three projects developed in response to rural locations in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; and King City and Tamworth, Ontario. These works consist of drawings and sculptures that result from site-specific experiences and knowledge gained through firsthand observations. They are attempts to get oriented, an investment in the mutability of materials, and an investigation into uncertain states.

These works developed slowly at the pace of walking and the speed of thought or thoughtfulness. Together, they all point to future outcomes.