Lift
Lift reimagines the classic claw machine as a symbol of support and solidarity. A row of teddy bears, hand-in-hand, rise together, emphasizing the power of connection and community. As a universal symbol of love and care, the teddy bear connects culture, gender, and generation to represent the importance of lifting each other up. I invite passersby to reflect on how we, like the bears, are all interconnected. The claw, often seen as a tool of chance or individual achievement, here becomes a metaphor for collective action. It is not just one bear being chosen, but the entire line being raised by each individual choosing to lift the next.
About the Artist
THECOLORG (b. 1991, Central PA) is a millennial feminine queer interdisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia, PA. Growing up surrounded by teddy bears and stuffed animals crafted by her family, she found inspiration in these soft works. Through soft sculpture, installation, painting, and digital media her work reflects the bridge between childhood memories and adult experiences, using objects, materials, and wordplay that evoke a sense of familiarity and introspection.
THECOLORG holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a BFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She has attended artist residencies at the Studios at MASS MoCA, Chautauqua Visual Arts, and the Walkaway House in North Adams, MA. Her work has been exhibited at many museums, galleries, and institutions across the country, including Banana Factory Arts Center, InLiquid Gallery, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Smithsonian Institution), Moravian University, Lycoming College Gallery, Atelier FAS Gallery, PAFA, Cherry Street Pier, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, the Erie Art Museum, and many more. Ash has built a handmade plush brand/entity focused on creating unique and custom plush for people of all ages which can be found for adoption at The Fabric Workshop & Museum, Philadelphia, PA. Her work was recently published in I Like Your Work’s Summer 2024 publication.
