Still Upright

Still Upright explores what remains after structural failure. These cast iron fragments originate from vertebrae forms that shattered during the casting process, leaving only thin, delicate tracings of their original shape. Instead of discarding them, I chose to preserve and present these remnants as evidence of endurance.

The edges reveal where the metal burned away or tore under heat and pressure, creating organic, lace-like patterns that feel both fragile and sharp. Their rusted surfaces speak to time, exposure, and continued wear—yet the forms persist. Even in their incomplete state, they carry the memory of support and the determination to hold together.

This piece reflects my experience living with chronic pain and injury: the body may change, break, or lose parts of its former strength, but it adapts. Still Upright acknowledges that resilience is not always about remaining whole—it is about continuing to stand in whatever form is possible.