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Maintenance: Artist Heather Theresa Clark literally unpacks the American Dream

Artist Heather Theresa Clark builds systems that critique our current world predicament. Drawing on her background as an urban planner, green developer and ecologist, her work plays on what she calls "cultural neurosis": the human tendency to over-consume, over-build and over-groom.

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Heather Theresa Clark's sculptural installation featuring a large inflated concrete sphere, wooden railroad tracks and structures, with a person observing from a platform in a gallery space

Her latest exhibition at Hillyer Art Space, Washington DC, includes three pieces: a video of low-income families running across a highway to get to work; a living room wall with a secret cavity; and a sculptural installation re-creating the American Dream .

This thought-provoking installation includes a working bellows that inflates a concrete ball, railroad tracks, a water fountain, and four live canaries observing the effort. Clark's work is on show at the space until 29 January.

Via Creative Boom submission | All images courtesy of the artist

Sculptural installation featuring wooden structures with a large concrete sphere, railroad tracks, a brass fountain and live canaries, examining concepts of American aspiration
Wooden railroad tracks leading through a narrow white corridor towards a brass fountain sculpture, with wooden structural framing visible on the sides
White birdcage installation mounted on wall beside a brass tiered fountain, part of Heather Theresa Clark's sculptural work critiquing the American Dream
Wooden sculptural installation with cross-braced framework supporting a brass tiered fountain, wooden beam and concrete sphere, with a birdcage visible above
Two bright yellow canaries in separate white cages observe the sculptural installation as part of Heather Theresa Clark's American Dream artwork
Two people cross a wide highway lined with parked cars, power lines and traffic signals under clear sky
Hands holding open a book or publication displaying a photograph of an industrial landscape with buildings and infrastructure
Monitor mounted on floral wallpaper displaying hands holding small photographs in an art installation view
Woman in black top standing beside wallpapered wall with cream floral pattern on navy background and circular sculptural installation mounted on it
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