| I’m a terribly curious person. I make art because I’m in love with getting to know the world and, through that, getting to know myself. Art is my account of my observations. When I make art, often times I make it to address elements of day- to- day society that I don’t fully understand or understand all too well. Ranging from cunnilingus to gravestone decorations to how gender roles are socialized, I deal with issues that pertain to my life. Problems that might seem minor are made major by their prevalence throughout our culture. My favorite artists and movements have all been based around their ability to bridge the gap between life and art; using their art as a catalyst for social and political change. Some examples are: Faith Ringold, John Feodorov, The YesMen, Frida Kahlo, Judy Chicago, Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie, Betye Saar, and Adrian Piper. Outside of content, as a sculpture/inter-media artist, I feel compelled to use as many different media as I can. I have utilized a variety of processes: for instance, computer generated images, performance art, garbage picking, cake decorating, story telling, watercolor painting, mold making, and fusing and slumping glass. I have also utilized a variety of materials: for instance, glass, fabric, food, found objects, wood, cement, and metal. While I use art as a mockery of my observations, I like to use art to teach people. The viewer’s reaction makes the piece: phallic cakes decorated in effeminate, flowery icing, placed in a mound on a hand-sewn laced tablecloth; all the elements work together as a conversion of gender role stereotypes. Will the audience eat it? Are women more comfortable eating it than men? Is it suggestive of a person’s sexuality if they eat the cake? It’s funny how many questions could stem from a piece of cake. It’s just a PIECE OF CAKE. A very loaded piece of cake it is. The important question is, why is it so loaded? How does that relate to American culture, historically? Present day? How does that relate to our notions of sexuality? Of gender? I make art that has a very direct message. I also make art that is ambiguous: a collection of icons, colors, and symbolism. Either way, my attempt is to raise questions in my viewers about sociological issues that affect our daily lives, questions about our actions, emotions, prejudices, desires, morals, politics. If it became a social norm to regularly consider these things it could potentially improve our social lives and understanding of ourselves. We are distanced from each other and ourselves. We need to mend our social problems before we can see real political change in this country. We need to come together (Yes, I get the pun. It would probably help things as well). |
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