Laura Moore

Laura Moore is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice is rooted in sculpture. Moore sparked her love for carving stone in 2001 at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. She now works primarily in stone and extends into mold-making, wood carving and drawing. Her interests lie in how material, form, and scale can communicate meaning. She explores tensions between the monumental and the handheld, the disposable and the permanent, and the interactive and the inert.

Scavenging is a key prerequisite for Moore’s art-making process. This was seen heavily in her 2016 series one man’s junk, where she locates, collects and repurpose unwanted electronics. Hand-carved in limestone, this series connects the local (discarded digital devices left curbside by Torontonians) to the global (the growing accumulation of electronic waste worldwide).

Laura Moore. Cassette Tapes, 2019. Hand-carved Soapstone. Photo credit: Paul Cimoroni

Moore’s recent exhibitions include The Memory of Things at Zalucky Contemporary, Memory Bathing at Latcham Art Centre, Replika/Replica at Galleri Babel in Trondheim, Norway, one man’s junk at the MacLaren Art Centre and Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus, Denmark. Moore is a transient member of Studio Pescarella in Pietrasanta Italy and this year, she’ll spend four months in Scandinavia; participating in two Artist in Residency Programs.

AGO: What was the inspiration for this artwork or series?

Moore: I began carving Handhelds in 2004; during the rise of personal cell phones, MP3 players and USB memory sticks. At that time, I was overloaded with hand-me-down electronics passed on from my technophile father. I accumulate obsolete electronics, saving them for their formal intrigue and nostalgic value. The objects are tied to my experiences; they’ve traveled with me, entertained me, recorded my memories and filled the palm of my hand for years; I feel connected to them. Each year, I set time aside to sort through my collection of gadgets and carve some of my favourite things.

Laura Moore. ATARI Joystick, 2019. Hand-carved Soapstone, 4" x 4.25" x 5". Photo credit: Paul Cimoroni

AGO: Tell us about a place or a space where you most love making your work?

Moore: I’m a transient member of Studio Pescarella in Pietrasanta Italy; a stone carving facility located next to Michelangelo Mountain (the mountain where Michelangelo excavated his marble). Studio Pescarella is an inspiring place full of amazing international stone carvers. I also love Artist-in-Residence Programs; in 2017 I attended Lademoen Kunstnerverksteder (LKV) in Trondheim, Norway. During my 2-month placement, I carved 100 USB memory sticks in soapstone and disseminated them along the rocky shoreline of Ladestien.

AGO: Are you in dialogue with any other artists or creative peers about your practice? If so, how does this dialogue feed your work?

Moore: I’m good friends with Tim Whiten, we meet-up regularly to talk about our practice and the art world; we’re like-minded. Exchanging thoughts and ideas over the years with Tim has been very meaningful to me, he’s been the best kind of support system; ambitious, consistent and genuine. I’m also lucky to have interesting, stimulating studiomates who definitely feed my practice. I have a tight-knit community of people around me; I’m very grateful for that.

Follow Laura Moore @lauramoore.ca