Monuments and Valleys, 2016-
Our methods of engagement with politics and social movements are constantly evolving. The immediacy of information in the age of the internet is akin to an IV drip. Socio-political movements, policy updates and scandals flow from our smart phones through our fingertips at all hours of day and night. It allows for we, the consumer, to constantly and immediately project our feelings and response- whether silently through retweets and reposts, marking ‘interested’ on activist event through Facebook, or publishing our thoughts to the world through tweet, blog post, or even self-publishing on sites such as Medium.
Having grown up in the punk rock scene during the turn to the 21st century, frustrations, obsessions, and affiliations were worn every day in the format of cheap badges and buttons on my vest. They often contained text to communicate their message and were somewhat akin to how my Facebook wall or twitter feed might function today. Rarely did they promote conversation or comment aside from a high five of affirmation from a friend (a “like”) or the trolling of a family member or stranger. I've often questioned the lack of depth in this type of political and social discourse- both in the buttons on my vest and the posts to my wall. Sometimes I have even silently scrutinized these acclimations from others, pondering the sincerity or follow through of the one posting.
I explore contemporary American politics and culture with the creation of jewelry and installation. I am particularly interested in jewelry’s ability to initiate and highlight conversations about equity, value, gender, and body politics in ways more complex and genuine then our subscribed internet presence. Carved stone, acrylic, latex, lace, mirrors, fabric and metal are employed alongside humor and appropriation to capture snapshots of our cultural engagement through the mining of memes, tweets, news posts, and the broader polarized culture from which they come.
Our methods of engagement with politics and social movements are constantly evolving. The immediacy of information in the age of the internet is akin to an IV drip. Socio-political movements, policy updates and scandals flow from our smart phones through our fingertips at all hours of day and night. It allows for we, the consumer, to constantly and immediately project our feelings and response- whether silently through retweets and reposts, marking ‘interested’ on activist event through Facebook, or publishing our thoughts to the world through tweet, blog post, or even self-publishing on sites such as Medium.
Having grown up in the punk rock scene during the turn to the 21st century, frustrations, obsessions, and affiliations were worn every day in the format of cheap badges and buttons on my vest. They often contained text to communicate their message and were somewhat akin to how my Facebook wall or twitter feed might function today. Rarely did they promote conversation or comment aside from a high five of affirmation from a friend (a “like”) or the trolling of a family member or stranger. I've often questioned the lack of depth in this type of political and social discourse- both in the buttons on my vest and the posts to my wall. Sometimes I have even silently scrutinized these acclimations from others, pondering the sincerity or follow through of the one posting.
I explore contemporary American politics and culture with the creation of jewelry and installation. I am particularly interested in jewelry’s ability to initiate and highlight conversations about equity, value, gender, and body politics in ways more complex and genuine then our subscribed internet presence. Carved stone, acrylic, latex, lace, mirrors, fabric and metal are employed alongside humor and appropriation to capture snapshots of our cultural engagement through the mining of memes, tweets, news posts, and the broader polarized culture from which they come.
Obelisks, phalluses, valleys, vulvas.
Purple mountain majesties.
Golden topped tetons.
Lost financial dreams.
Everything is what it seems.
Purple mountain majesties.
Golden topped tetons.
Lost financial dreams.
Everything is what it seems.