You’re weird for building this was a collaborative two-person exhibition from artists Sarah Hotchkiss and Stephanie Rohlfs. Inspired by “animal enrichment devices,” the objects provided by zookeepers and pet owners to reduce stress and improve an animal’s quality of life, the artists present enrichment devices for human audiences. The utilitarian decisions made by industrial designers become generative springboards for the artists in sculptures that enclose, support, tease and soothe. A hanging human-scaled cage nods to bird enclosures with their “fascinator” objects and camouflage. A fish tanks’ miniatures mimic the gallery space, creating a meta loop, a hamster wheel of the mind. Custom furniture, live plants, sound and atomized scents build a space for a playful investigation of the relationship between artist, viewer and object. Hotchkiss and Rohlfs re-build the gallery as an immersive experience for the viewer, designed to function as a space for stimulation, mollification, and presentation.

A light blue rectangle of wood with two finger-like protrusions at the top. These fingers support a yellowed wooden rod, from which hang two flat-braided raffia bands. These bands end at colorful mirrors, which are decorated with jingle bells, chains, and assorted beads.

Fake Friend Fascinator, 2018 (Wood, paint, mirrors, epoxy clay, ceramic beads, chain, jingle bells, raffia) 37 x 29 in.

A rectangular pedestal covered in grass-patterned fabric supports a fishtank. On the pedestal are also two protrusions reminiscent of cuttlebone bird toys. The fishtanks lavender substrate mimics the painted purple lines that ring the gallery floor. In addition to several small fish and fake plants, the tank displays a miniature version of Cage, also in the show.

Fishtank Birdperch, 2018 (Fish tank, wood, fabric, epoxy clay, rubber-coated ceramic, fake plant, six fish, two shrimp) 44 x 21 x 12 in.

A wide, white and beige ceramic pot with three openings at the top at staggered heights. The lowest opening contains a cactus. The two taller ones contain cacti which have been cut in half and their tops grafted to each other.

Double Grafted Plant Object, 2018 (Glazed ceramic, cacti) 20 x 14 x 5 in.

A cylindrical black wire cage hangs over a circle of green carpet. The cage is lumpy and irregular, suspended from purple rope. From it hangs an assortment of objects: long strands of black hair, a necklace, fake plant leaves, a pink salt lick, and two small abstract shapes. The cage hangs approximately 6 feet off the ground and could be entered by a viewer.

Cage, 2018 (Epoxy clay, paint, carpet, fake plant, fake hair, Himalayan salt crystals, plastic beads, chain, nylon cord) Dimensions variable

A long, irregular beige oval hangs from a bright yellow peg. Jutting out at approximately hip height is a triangle of pubic hair made from stiff black wire.

Long, Long, 2018 (Wood, epoxy clay, wire, acrylic paint) 56 x 13 x 7 in. Shown installed with "Lemon Ped" by Sarah Hotchkiss.

At the base of "Fishtank Birdperch," a small charcoal gray pot holds a monkey tail cactus. The long cactus winds around a white rod that juts out from the pot, and it is supported by three white loops in the rod's form. From the tip of the cactus hangs a necklace of white alphabet beads with black text, "You're Weird for Building This."

Twisted Plant Object, 2018 (Glazed ceramic, epoxy clay, cacti, plastic beads) 25 x 10 x 8 in.

Fake Friend Fascinator, 2018 (Wood, paint, mirrors, epoxy clay, ceramic beads, chain, jingle bells, raffia) 37 x 29 in.

Fishtank Birdperch, 2018 (Fish tank, wood, fabric, epoxy clay, rubber-coated ceramic, fake plant, six fish, two shrimp) 44 x 21 x 12 in.

Double Grafted Plant Object, 2018 (Glazed ceramic, cacti) 20 x 14 x 5 in.

Cage, 2018 (Epoxy clay, paint, carpet, fake plant, fake hair, Himalayan salt crystals, plastic beads, chain, nylon cord) Dimensions variable

Long, Long, 2018 (Wood, epoxy clay, wire, acrylic paint) 56 x 13 x 7 in. Shown installed with "Lemon Ped" by Sarah Hotchkiss.

Twisted Plant Object, 2018 (Glazed ceramic, epoxy clay, cacti, plastic beads) 25 x 10 x 8 in.