Recast

Recast

by Sarah Frost

Location: Post-Security, Terminal 2, near gate E10

Each element in Recast has been cast from something found in one of the 79 neighborhoods that comprise the City of St. Louis. The objects that were cast were chosen for their visual interest and include everyday items, temporary installations, and parts of the built environment and landscape. They were made from a variety of materials, such as cast iron, discarded plastic or centuries-old brick; they range from handmade to mass-produced. Some reflect wear patterns, decay or meticulous care, evoking people and the passage of time. Like an artifact of the city, each cast embodies the physical characteristics of a unique place and moment in time. They are juxtaposed on the wall for visual effect, revealing similarities and differences.

Frost’s exhibition concept initially grew out of walking the sidewalks of the city, often while on an errand or lunch break, and discovering interesting forms. She noted these locations and returned to them later to make an imprint of the form. Working in the studio, she used the impression as a mold to cast plaster into. As this project evolved, it became a way to discover and engage with the city’s environment, past and present. As the main point of arrival and departure for residents, visitors, and newcomers to the St. Louis area, St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a fitting context for this work. Similar to the way a place lives on in a traveler’s memory after departure, these casts physically retain the ‘memory’ of the sites from which they were created.