Unfinished Grief

Author

Emelyn Rowan

Date of Award

2025

First Advisor

Em Rooney

Second Advisor

Ben Krupka

Third Advisor

Chris Coggins

Abstract

The goal of my thesis is to discuss the way that we experience grief, the ways that we interact with each other when we are experiencing grief. And the way that society in the United States of America treats grief, specifically in the Northeast. The final form of my thesis is a collection of multimedia sculptures as well as the written element that follows to support and expand on ideas behind the work. I primarily use clay, but also used animal skins, bones, string, wire, and feathers to make my pieces. Ceramic as a medium has always been something I could connect to and so it just made sense to have this thesis be made from a medium that I believe cannot be fully controlled. Like the process of art, and grieving, working with clay will always serve you better than to try and use or force clay into shape. I believe that we treat grief in our society as something shameful, overwhelming, and with certain restrictions to be placed on it. And I want to challenge that and show different ways people may grieve, and rehumanize the grieving process. I created a functioning ceramic fountain, as well as 33 smaller sculptures.

Recommended Citation

Rowan, Emelyn, "Unfinished Grief" (2025). Senior Theses. 1709.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/sr-theses/1709