Portfolio: Crafted Works

Artist D. Keith Furon releases original, hand-sculpted photographic art.

Artist D. Keith Furon has evolved photographic art. His unique art pieces are hand manipulated
into three-dimensional, deconstructed pieces of sculpted art. These one-of-a-kind art works
are then suspended in shadow box frames. The original film negative is cut into pieces and
attached to the art piece as proof that there is no negative from which to make more prints in the future.
Each piece is unique and there is only one that will ever exist.

D. Keith explained, “For years I wrestled to create a form of original art that would
be created from my photographs. I had traditionally created photographic images,
printed a series of limited-edition prints from the negative, and framed the results.
I loved the photographic process. But I also felt stuck in the realm of multiple prints.
I wanted to create individual creations of art, where only one original existed, but that
used the photograph as the medium. A truly unique individual piece of art. Much like
a sculpture uses clay, I use my photograph.”

“I remember one day noticing a crumpled up piece of paper on my desk,
and noticed how the shapes and folds created highlights and shadows on the shape.
It struck a chord. I saw that I wanted to impart that dimension and form to my images;
to make, essentially, a two-dimensional piece become a three-dimensional piece.”

Crafted Works are hand manipulated, often over time, in multiple sessions until the shape,
distressing texturing and manipulation bring the print to its final state. That is then locked
into the print so that it retains its shape in an archival form.