TEXAS GRILLS - TOPOGRAPHIES OF TASTE

THIS TWO TOOTH CAP IS THE TEXAS ENTRY IN THE TOPOGRAPHIES OF TASTE SERIES, MARKING THE AREA WHERE MY BROTHER LIVES. THE DESIGN IS A DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE TRADITIONAL COWBOY TOOTH CAPS HISTORICALLY PREVALENT IN THE AREA. SINCE MOVING THERE, MY BROTHER HAS FULLY IMMERSED HIMSELF IN THE LOCAL LIFESTYLE, DEVELOPING A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR RANCHING, BULL RIDING, AND COUNTRY LIVING. BY ADAPTING THIS SPECIFIC REGIONAL AESTHETIC, THE PIECE SERVES AS A MATERIAL RECORD OF HIS GEOGRAPHIC SHIFT AND HIS CONNECTION TO COWBOY CULTURE. CONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE SERIES, THE FABRICATION RELIES ON THE LOST-WAX CASTING PROCESS. THE CAPS WERE HAND-SCULPTED IN WAX DIRECTLY OVER A PLASTER MOLD OF MY OWN TEETH TO ENSURE AN EXACT FIT. BY CASTING THIS DISTINCT TEXAS STYLE TO FIT MY OWN MOUTH, THE FINISHED, HIGH-POLISH PIECE CREATES A DIRECT, PHYSICAL LINK BETWEEN ME AND MY BROTHER’S LIFE.