Joseph Hubbard

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND PARANOIA:
FEAR, GREED AND LOATHING

This body of work (2001-2006) challenges the viewer to consider his fears, beliefs, and prejudices through interpretations of some symbols of power. Not since the Middle Ages have passions created such overwhelming and persistent tensions and conflicts between social groups, religions, and states. The "evolution" of our respective cultures have resulted in more murders and genocides, more misperceptions and more, not less irrationality. These sculptures attempt to persuade self-examination through a kind of wicked beauty. Edifices, Spires, Minarets, and "Weapons of Mass Destruction" suggest both devotional and threatening objects used to project influence. They are symbols of both the most inspirational and foolish aspects of human nature. The art in this collection of works range from the literal (exact, life-sized reproductions of the first two atomic bombs, Fat Man & Little Boy, to the metaphorical (Time, Conquest & Religion, Cultural Destruction) which refers to rhetoric and subtler weapons used. A key aspect of this series is a miniature cacaphony of sounds competing for the viewer's attention. Tiny hidden speakers in each piece project stereotypical music and words related to its own symbols.
(click on images to enlarge)
WMD~(TiME): THE PROCESSION OF DAYS	WMD~(TIME) : THE PROCESSION OF DAYS Á la Recherche du Temps Perdu (Remembrance of Things Past) (for Proust) Mixed media: red oak; red cedar, plexiglass, hydrocal, brass fittings, cast acrylic spill. Height: 89 inches, Weight 47 lbs. Width 42 inches, Depth 8 inches. In construction 2000-2001; Life sized Oak& Red Cedar fascimile of door containing 178 forton/hydrocal reinforced eggs behind plexiglass. Collection of McIntosh Gallery, London, Canada
	WMD~(RELIGION ): SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN Mixed Media: Wood, Brass, Fibreglass, Gold Leaf, Rubber Boots And Calving Nipples, Brass Instruments, etc; Height 2.2 Meters; Weight 110 Lbs, Width 40cm, Depth 40 cm In Construction 2003-2004 Stacks in six sections. Upper and lower halves have concealed lighting and sound effects. This 2nd work In the series influenced by Jared Diamond's book: Guns, Germs, And Steel.	WMD~(RELIGION ): SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN
WMD ~ (Brass Minaret~Missile #3)	WMD~ (BRASS MINARET~MISSILE #3) Medium: wood, brass, fibreglass, cast forton resin. Height 8 feet, weight 90 lbs, width /depth 37 inches. Constructed in 2004
	WMD'S: (IRON MINARETS PARANOIA #1, #2) Shown as a pair. Medium: wood, fiberglass, cast forton (Hytrocal); intered iron rust finish. Height 6 feet, wight 25 lbs, width/depth 40 cm each. Construction in 2003-2004. Stacks in three sections: minaret cones, bases and platforms remove for transport. Includes prosthetic glass eyes.	WMD'S: (IRON MINARETS PARANOIA #1, #2)
WMD¹S~ (WHITEMINARET~MISSILES#4,5)  .	WMD¹S~ (WHITE MINARETS ~MISSILES # 4, 5) Two shown together. Medium: wood, fiberglass, cast forton (Hydrocal). Height: 8 feet, weight 90 lbs, width/depth 40 cm each. Constructed in 2003-2004. Stacks in three sections: minaret cones, bases and platforms remove for transport. These each feature sound effects eminating from miniature speakers on the platforms which connect with a continuous play CD player. Missile~Minarets may be used to attack western paranoia.
WMD ~ THE FAT MAN Literal weapon of mass destruction as per 1945 description. "FAT MAN" was original nickname for this atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan; August 9,1945. The corpulant monniker became synonymous with U.S. national image. An ARMED, LIVE Mark IV version of Fat Man was lost over northern British Columbia, Canada in February 1950 in a plane crash. The remains of the U.S. six engine B36 bomber have been found but the fate of the bomb remains a mystery.	Size accurate to original 1945 size specifications (American Department of Defence) Medium: bi-axial fibreglass, cast forton (hydrocal); sintered iron finish (transverse 1/2 section) Sculpture weight: 91 lbs; original weight: 10,200 lbs. Width/depth height:152 cm (60 in); length 328cm (10 feet, 2 inches); height79cm (31inches) Constructed 2005; Assembles in two sections .	WMD ~ THE FAT MAN
WMD ~ LITTLE BOY	WMD ~ LITTLE BOY, LITTLE BOY 2005: 2/3 scale reproduction of atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima August 6, 1945. Originally named Little Boy by the American Department of Defence (with "cultural figurehead.") Media: fibreglass, cast forton (Hydrocal); steel, wood, sintered iron finish. Weight 57 lbs. Length 229cm/(90 inches); height:145cm (57inches)
	SHADOWS: ITINERARY ~WMD~DIPTYCH from The Weight of Words Small wood letters suspended from tiny clothespegs on steel cable held in tension by miniature metal scales; clear plexiglass fronts and backs. Letters spell the names of locales. Media: Steel wire, wood frames, wood letters, length-(X 2) EACH 178cm (68 inches); Height- 9cm (3.5inches); Depth 1 INCH (2.5cm) .	SHADOWS: ITINERARY
WMD ~ FALSE HOPE	WMD ~ FALSE HOPE 18 inch (46cm) fibreglass egg suspended near very high ceiling (14 ft) 428cm, trails tiny metal ladder stretching to the floor. ~2006; apocalyptic black humour.
	LATIN AMERICAN WMD: MISSILE #6 Hardboard, tobacco, weathered hardwood, cast fibreglass, acrylic resins, sintered iron. Height 275cm (8ft) Diameter 92cm (36") 2005-2006	LATIN AMERICAN WMD: MISSILE #6
WMD's, IED's, EFP's	WMD's, IED's, EFP's Six "eggs"; six "fin" sections. Ceramic, fibreglass, sintered iron filings. EACH 44cm (18") L x 25cm (10") diameter 2006-2007
	WMD: MACHETE Steel, wood, sintered iron filings, plexiglass 25cm (10") H x 66cm (30") W x 5cm (2")D 2006	WMD: MACHETE
WMD: SEMTEX	WMD: SEMTEX Mixed media, silver foil, plexiglass, ash frame 25cm (10") H x 15cm (6") W x 5cm (2") D 2006
	ATOMIC WRIST WMD'S; MAQUETTES Mixed media, iron. Each: 7.4cm(3")H x 15cm(6")L 2006	ATOMIC WRIST WMD'S; MAQUETTES
	ACQUIESCENCE: PORTAL Plywood, sintered iron filings, cast resin bolts & letters. 183cm H x 122cm W x 14cm D Rail frame: 66cm H x 55cm W x 122cm D. 2006

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