Category: Work 2010-2018

Extending Form

Extending Form, 2018
Light is a unique medium because it can fill a room but it doesn’t take up any physical space. It can be controlled by a gesture of the hand or a movement from the body. What happens when light is used to extend the human form? How does it allow the body to extend itself in space?

I created a wearable light sculpture made up of green and brown fabric to blend into the surroundings of nature. The neckline of the wearable is elongated to cover the face. The lights are embedded underneath the long flowing layers of the sculpture. They are able to move freely when motion is applied. The wearable sculpture is a tool that is activated though the motion of the body, pushing the endurance of the body through spinning. This allows the light to expand in the space it is being activated in.

The Discovery of Venus

The Discovery of Venus, 2017
Venus was the goddess of sex, beauty, and fertility. She is often depicted nude in art because of her beauty. “The Discovery of Venus” examines Venus through the eyes of a woman and beauty as the grotesque. What is beauty? How is beauty defined? How can women reclaim the gaze and transform how they see themselves?

Documentation of performance during Benaco Arte Artist Residency in Sirmoine, Italy.

The Things I Carry

The Things I Carry, 2016-2017

“The Things I Carry” explores how we are made up of our experiences and even if we let go they still remain with us. The dress is made up of 42 pockets, each carrying a LED. The LEDs are pulled from the pockets and thrown to the ground then pulled behind the dress.

Documentation of performance during Benaco Arte Artist Residency in Sirmoine, Italy.

Reflections

Reflections, 2016

“Reflections” is a multimedia performance/installation that explores the body through abstract grotesque silhouettes and their surroundings. It examines the boundaries of the body. Through heavy shapes and light I transform myself into this beautiful creature.

In the Presence of Myself

In the Presence of Myself, 2015

The desire to fit into social norms of body image takes a physical and emotional toll. Body shaming yourself day after day. Fixating and battling with your self proclaimed imperfections. Creating an obsession around it and slowly disembodying who you are to just pieces of disgust.

“In the Presence of Myself” is a performance art piece that explores and highlights the self consciousness of what it means to carry these emotions. Slowing exploring and understanding the body. Sometimes hiding behind this outer self.

VESSEL

Vessel, 2013

Vessel is a series of garments specially designed for the female body. Using cutting edge technology embedded into the fabric these garments are able to monitor the actions and physical well being of the female. The unique design of the Chastity Dress helps young women become more aware of their behaviors. LEDs embedded into the fabric which release a warning by lighting up when the woman is touched inappropriately. The Fertility Dress responds to internal stimulus and changes colors based on menstruation cycle and the cleanliness of the wearer. The dress turns blue when ovulating, red when menstruating, and glows white with excellent hygiene and yellow with poor hygiene.


The Purity Pillow

The Purity Pillow, 2012
Interactive hand sewn pillow, LEDs, Light Sensor, Heat Sensor, Arduino

The invention of the purity pillow came about when parents of adolescent girls began to realize that their daughters might be sneaking boys into their rooms. The PurityPillow should be placed on the girl’s bed for accurate results. The pillow’s alarm system is activated by heat and light. When her bedroom gets too hot, due to some illicit activity perhaps, the pillow lets off a high-pitched tone, and when the room is too dark the pillow begins to glow.

Pillow guaranteed to keep girls pure and out of trouble.

Batteries not included.

Kind of Girl

Kind of Girl, 2011

This video focuses on the presence a young woman has in the virtual world verses the physical. In the virtual world you are able to be/act however you want because you can hide behind a computer. In the physical world you have to obey certain social rules and are face to face with issues.

This also raises the question of how girls are losing their innouces at a younger age because they able to have an avatar on the internet. Some are creating an image that does not really portray who they really are.

Are they really that kind of girl.

LOOK

Look, 2010

Viewing and wanting to be viewed. “LOOK” provides a glimpse into the objectification of women through the eyes of a woman. The modern media often depicts women very slim, tall, sexual objects,although women understand that this depiction is not a realistic body image, many unconsciously strive to achieve it. This seemingly odd dance by women wanting to be treated as a subjective being, yet expecting to be looked at physically, only assists in their own reduction to the level of object.

In the video “No. No. No.” illustrates this reoccurring notion that ends a sequence. By combining vigorous posing with a playful voice and hang gesture indicating “No,” this video displays this confliction of denying the objectification of body with desire of wanting to be noticed. Human interest is stronger when the object of desire is not easily obtained and naturally higher worth is placed on it.

This struggle between real and imagined body image is viewed through my eyes. Desiring to view myself through the eyes of others, my mind’s eye projects my own, “realistic” objectification of women.