(Architectural-like structure; like a playground environmental sculpture) 1974

Connie Benham made this Architectural-like Structure, or Playground Environmental Sculpture, in 1994 using graphite, and it's all about seeing the process of building. The gray graphite gives everything a solid, almost serious feel. Up close, you can practically feel the surface Benham created. The graphite isn’t just laid down smoothly, it’s worked into the paper, giving the structure a tactile presence. Look at the way she shades the sides of each block, how the strokes create subtle shifts in tone that make each form feel heavy and real. The way she’s handled the graphite reminds me of the subtle shifts you find in Agnes Martin. It’s a reminder that art, like life, is about building something, piece by piece, with no fixed plan. This piece sits as a quiet testament to the endless possibilities of artmaking as a journey of discovery.