Belongings A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Fine Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Nickolaus Larsen, B.F.A Graduate Program in Art The Ohio State University 2019 Thesis Committee Alison Crocetta, Advisor Ann Hamilton George Rush © Copyrighted by Nickolaus Larsen 2019 ABSTRACT The entries in this document provide context and backstory for the language used, often in multiple forms, in the artworks in my thesis exhibition. The entries are presented alphabetically and cross-referenced—a structure designed to be both easy to navigate and reflective of the way these ideas are linked in my work. As a companion to the other elements of my thesis project, this text is neither exhaustive or definitive; it is a living document designed to be updated as the vocabulary of my work grows and evolves. ii VITA 2002-2007 ............................................................................... B.F.A, University of Nevada, Reno 2016-2017 .................................... Graduate Administrative Assistant, The Ohio State University 2017-2018 ............................................ Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University 2018-Present ....................................... Graduate Research Assistant, The Ohio State University FIELD OF STUDY Major Field: Art iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii VITA ............................................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS .................................................................................. 2 American Flats ..................................................................................................................... 2 Anti-milestone ..................................................................................................................... 2 Art Directing the Real .......................................................................................................... 3 Asshole Mountain ................................................................................................................ 3 Artifacts ............................................................................................................................... 4 Artifact Catalog .................................................................................................................... 5 Bear Trap ............................................................................................................................ 5 Belongings .......................................................................................................................... 6 Bent Rainbow ...................................................................................................................... 6 Bleached Denim ................................................................................................................... 7 Bloodshot Eyes ................................................................................................................... 8 Blur/Drift .............................................................................................................................. 9 Buffalo Check ....................................................................................................................... 9 Buffaloner Mountain ............................................................................................................ 9 Cactus Skeleton ................................................................................................................ 10 Camouflage ........................................................................................................................ 10 Cast(ing) Urethane ............................................................................................................ 12 Chimayo Sport Jacket ....................................................................................................... 12 Controlled Burn ................................................................................................................. 13 Cumtrees .......................................................................................................................... 13 Darkness on the Edge of Town ......................................................................................... 13 Day After Christmas Feeling ............................................................................................. 14 Dead Horse ....................................................................................................................... 14 Desert ............................................................................................................................... 16 Deserter ............................................................................................................................. 17 Desert Hearts ..................................................................................................................... 18 Desolation Wilderness ....................................................................................................... 19 Dry Heat ............................................................................................................................. 19 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED Ed Ruscha ......................................................................................................................... 19 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere ................................................................................... 21 False Colors ....................................................................................................................... 22 Familiar Void ...................................................................................................................... 24 Fire Retardant .................................................................................................................... 24 First Aids Test .................................................................................................................... 24 Ghost Townie Pleasures ................................................................................................... 24 Hanky Code ...................................................................................................................... 25 Having a Coke with You .................................................................................................... 25 Hillside Letters .................................................................................................................. 25 Isotropic Environment ....................................................................................................... 26 I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times ................................................................................. 27 Intermittent River ................................................................................................................ 28 Leaving No Trace .............................................................................................................. 28 Limited Resources ............................................................................................................. 29 List-making ........................................................................................................................ 29 Low-Water Mark ................................................................................................................. 31 Male Gaze .......................................................................................................................... 31 Making Do .......................................................................................................................... 31 Map Crevices .................................................................................................................... 33 Mapping ............................................................................................................................. 34 Mayor of Ghost Towns ...................................................................................................... 35 Memorabilia ...................................................................................................................... 35 Merch ................................................................................................................................ 36 Mountain Monograms ........................................................................................................ 36 Nervous Milk ..................................................................................................................... 36 Neutral Ground .................................................................................................................. 36 Omar Pierce .. .................................................................................................................... 36 Outside Jokes ...................................................................................................................