Scout Patterson

Untouchable

Barbed wire, broken glass, steel flatbar, rods

"The inspiration for this piece came from dark place inside myself. I've struggled with depression my entire life and it's a feeling I've always had a hard time communicating. It's been an obstacle for many of my relationships; family, friends and significant others. The broken glass is meant to serve as a barrier between the audience and the figure, while the barbed wire is intended to represent an intricate problem weighing on the figure’s back that cannot be removed by the figure or the audience. Both the broken glass and barbed wire stand as barriers, elements that prevent the audience from reaching the figure.

These barriers also act as a prison to the figure. It's a feeling I’ve never been able to explain to those closest to me. On my darkest days I feel so far away from my friends and family, like I can’t reach them. Not only is this feeling hard for me, but I know it takes its toll on those around me as they are forced to remain helpless as viewers. I installed this piece in a room by itself because I wanted the audience to feel this sense of loneliness and isolation that this piece is trying to convey."

– Scout Patterson

About the artist

Scout Patterson

Scout Patterson (b. 1997, Natick, Massachusetts) earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and studio arts with a minor in business from the University of Colorado Boulder, in the spring of 2021. Ever since childhood Patterson has always had an overactive imagination. Her artwork is an attempt to bring the imagined to life. She is captivated by the subtle magics found in the everyday and draws inspiration from the inorganic and organic qualities of the materials she uses. Patterson spent her undergraduate career creating sculptures and installations from found materials, such as river rocks, wooden pallets and car parts. Patterson enjoys giving these found materials a second life through her art. Recently she has been incredibly drawn to found industrial materials and has enjoyed learning new welding techniques to create her works.

During her last year in undergrad, Patterson learned GTAW and SMAW while continuing to practice GMAW and helped as a studio monitor in CU Boulder’s metal shop located in the Visual Arts Complex. As a monitor Patterson would help maintain the shop on a daily basis as well as provide different welding demos to other students. She also learned some fabrication skills through the CAD program Rhino6 and proper operating techniques for the plasma CNC machine located in the shop. Patterson had her first sculpture accepted to the Arvada Sculpture Center in the Summer of 2021. This piece was constructed completely from found car parts. Patterson also collaborated with the artist Emma Hardy over the course of 2021 on an installation commissioned by Dr. Bronner's Soap Company. The piece was originally intended for Burning Man 2021 but was instead installed at a private gathering in Mendocino, California due to the festival cancellation. This collaboration allowed Patterson to learn from Hardy’s experiences and grow into her own creative practice as an emerging artist.

Patterson enrolled at the Emily Griffith Technical School in Denver to complete their welding 1 program and further her fabrication knowledge. While enrolled in school, Patterson apprenticed at C8 Fabrication and Design. Patterson seeks to pursue a career in public art with an emphasis on large scale works. She intends to continue her involvement in the music industry through interactive art installations for festivals and other creative gatherings. Patterson enjoys bringing people together through her artistic installations. She values a sense of community among her artistic peers, friends, and family.