South Brunswick High School senior has created her own story and sculptures to match.
By: Melissa Harvie
South Brunswick High School senior Beki Basch has found inspiration in a story.
The tale is one of her own devising and is based on a group of primitive people living on an island. The island, she said, resembles a landfill and the people are curious about their surroundings.
From this simple storyline, Beki has begun to create sculptures out of wood, PVC pipe and other materials, bringing the tales of these imaginary people to life.
On Saturday, Beki unveiled the first piece based on this story when "Hunting in spring whilst thinking of other things" during the opening of an outdoor installation at the Plainsboro Preserve.
"I guess you could consider it a contemporary sculpture," she said.
The piece is made of various materials and visitors of the preserve are drawn to the site by ambient music.
"It’s three-quarters of a mile up the path at the end where it comes to a T. I collaborated with my uncle on it. It’s like ambient music that kind of calls you to the site," she said.
Her uncle, Mark Everett, does at home graphic design music.
The sculpture will be on display until Thursday.
Beki said this is only one of many scenes based on her story, or cycle as she calls it. She hopes it’s just the beginning of a long career.
In the fall she’ll be heading to the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she received a scholarship for her artwork.
When she was a sophomore, she never thought that what she was creating was art. That is, until her teacher told her it was.
Beki said that art teacher helped her work on finding her story.
"She was just a fantastic person," Beki said.
Beki said her art is a work in progress.
"I’ve been working on it since 10th grade, but I’ll probably work on it for the rest of my life," she said.
Although Beki said her teacher helped her find her story, she doesn’t plan on teaching. She said she’d rather students find their own stories .
After she graduates college, Beki said she’d like to continue doing what she’s doing now.
"I’m very hopeful about that," she said. "To be content with anything is a dream."