With Feed, Mastrangelo is enlarging and re-sculpting an iconic religious statue, a 3-foot Virgin Mary commonly found in apartments or outdoor gardens, with birdseed, adding mystery and new layers of interpretation. Birds (e.g. Eagle, Dove and Pigeon, Raven and Sparrows) are referenced throughout Christian literature and art. The material connects the Virgin Mary to the symbolism of various birds — peace, innocence, strength, maternal protection, ignorance, and humility. The work may ultimately cease to be recognizable as the Virgin Mary as birds consume the birdseed. This transformation is an important element to the Mastrangelo’s exploration of a metamorphosis of meaning that is not entirely controlled by the creator of the image.

Special Thanks: Noah Weitzman and Jordan Spade