Revised Artist Statement

            I want you to see me.  No, really see me.  Not just look at me but also see me.  Pick me apart piece by piece and then put me back together.  These are the subtleties that distract people when they interact with me, what makes them consider me in a new light when first discovered.  Possibly these are the parts of my body that will cause judgment and reaction. Carolee Schneemann’s performance art as she uses her own body as a canvas has inspired the use of my own body within my work.  I have selected what sections of my body to share with the public yet I have no control over how they will perceive it.  The viewer is able to construct a character from these fragmented bits of my individual self.  I am giving up control to those inspecting these smaller parts of what makes me a whole person. 

            These are various elements of my body that come together as I feebly strive to create an individual being in this sea of bodies wandering the earth.  Nietzsche, among others, theorizes how humans place great importance on the gratification of being acknowledged as an individual yet we are abruptly halted by a tragic contradiction.  Inevitably we can never be anything more than what others perceive us to be.  As we all share an earth, the world that we know is only constructed through our personal experiences.  In addition, we take into account how others treat us to help form our identities.  It is a vicious circle in which we are playing the pathetic role of seeking successful identities that we construct.  With the consideration that a person is limited to other’s perception of them, I acknowledge how I am bound to the stereotypes in which others place me.  Through this acknowledgement I am free to let go of any concern of how I display myself.  Ana Mendieta’s focus on identity and her simplistic renderings of the female form have impacted the humble images of my body.  The small photographs force the viewer to get closer to the images creating a more intimate experience.  In addition, the movement of the display creates an active audience rather than a docile viewer.  Having an active viewer allows for the consideration that their perspective of me is what creates my identity, not just how I choose to present myself.  I have used a reverse lens technique to take close up images of my skin to get better detail.  This is not only a study of the body but it also reverses perspective of judging others.  I am investigating my own body to allow the viewer to acknowledge how we construct an identity for those we interact with.  

Current Artist Statement

I want you to see me.  No, really see me.  Not just look at me but also see me.  Pick me apart piece by piece and then put me back together.  These are the subtleties that distract people when they interact with me, what makes them consider me in a new light when first discovered.  Possibly these are the parts of my body that will cause judgment and reaction.  I have selected what sections of my body to share with the public yet I have no control over how they will perceive it.  The viewer is able to construct a character from these fragmented bits of my individual self.  I am giving up control to those inspecting these shattered parts of what makes me a whole person. 

            These are various elements of my body that come together as I feebly strive to create an individual being in this sea of bodies wandering the earth.  Nietzsche, among others, theorizes how humans place great importance on striving for gratification of being acknowledged as an individual yet we are abruptly halted by a tragic contradiction.  Inevitably we can never be anything more than what others perceive us to be.  As we all share an earth, the world that we know is only constructed through our personal experiences.  In addition, we take into account how others treat us to help form our identities.  It is a vicious circle in which we are playing the pathetic role of seeking successful identities that we construct.  With the consideration that a person is limited to other’s perception of them, I acknowledge how I am bound to the stereotypes in which others place me.  Through this acknowledgement I am free to let go of any concern of how I display myself.  Many artists such as, Carolee Schneemann, Ana Mendieta, Mitsuko Nagone, and Vito Acconci influence my work.  The small photographs force the viewer to get closer to the images creating a more intimate experience.  In addition, the movement of the display creates an active audience rather than a docile viewer.  The use of black and white images eliminates any distracting elements other than the form and simplicity of my body.  

A New Point Of View

These images are fragmented pieces of my body.  The subtleties that distract people when they interact with me.  Possibly the parts of my body that will cause judgement and reaction.  A contradiction is being made as I select what parts of me I share with the public yet I have no control over how they will perceive it.  I am giving up control, whatever you will make of me is no concern of mine.  

Taking this new approach is to remove any sense of pain or resentment that seemed so prevalent in my previous work and replace that with simple awareness and acceptance, not resistance.  This work becomes somewhat of a release as I let go of the concern for how I will be viewed.  This is just the beginning and plan I having more images from different areas of my body.

Gone are those who understand how you became yourself.  Gone are the reasons lurking in the past that might excuse your mistakes. 

Over Break

Over break I worked on the same wire work I had previously done but tried to get closer to the subject and try new angles. I experimented with rubbing oil on the back of the finished transfers to remove the paper quality which worked quite well. I also found a color of tea stain I plan on using for the final images to give them more of a lifelike quality.  Lastly, I began a scroll of text I plan to accompany the images.  The scroll will be hand written text hundreds of times mind numbingly repeating one single phrase, "This is only my flesh".  The paper will pool on to the floor in a pile next to the images.

Here are some new images...right now I'm leaning towards the close-ups.

In Progress Crit 2

Utilizing a lighting kit, I continued to work with my original idea and content.  I posted the images that were produced from this venture.  However, with new insight I decided to move away from this content but working with similar ideas about selfhood.  The new images use this idea of constructing one's self and performing an individual identity to the greater public.  Some of my own decisions in constructing my identity ended up in permanent body modification.  These distinguish me from traditional conforming norms and femininity.  Consequently, these identifiers (i.e. piercings, tattoos, dreadlocks...) force me into a stereotype which I am now bound to through the limitation of others perception of me.  This binding is literally placed onto my body in these images.

In Progress Critique

My project investigates the ways in which we perform our personal identities to the public.  Existential philosophy explores the idea of wether the self is dependent on the body or purely the mind of each individual.  All of the norms that we abide by, how we should behave, dress, etc, are a social construct which do not really exist.  However, depending on our personal experiences we inevitably choose one path or another.  This decided path creates the individual that ultimately becomes one's self.  I have asked different individuals to take on the role of my collaborator.  Each person dresses me in their clothing and poses me within their environment.  They are reflecting themselves onto me. Yet, I remain as the same self.

The images displayed here are the beginning of my investigation.  Similar images are presented as I am still deciding what works best for my desired outcome.

Project Proposal

My project will have a final of five images which will be edited from an indefinite number of images.  These will be digital, inkjet prints in various sizes with the largest print being 11x17.  I will display the prints in simple, thin, black frames so not to distract from the actual art work in the frame.  I will be the subject portrayed in the images but I will have different collaborators for each print.  I will allow each person to do my costuming and make-up and then take a picture of the final product.  The capture of my new look will be in the room of the person who dresses me up.  Some artists that work in similar manners are Cindy Sherman, Nikki S. Lee, and Caleb Cole.  My work is influenced by metaphysics and the debate of whether personal identity is of the physical body or the mind.  This will be an investigation on how our physical appearance constitutes who people perceive us to be.  However, the change of our outside appearance does not change the being who lives inside our bodies and ultimately is our identity.  This project will also address issues dealing with the pressure from society to embody a specific persona depending how we portray ourselves physically.  There are also possibilities of this work touching on issues of expected gender roles in society and how we perform them.  I want the audience to question how we present ourselves and how we use our body as a form of expression.  I am looking for an intellectual response to the work to start a conversation about our path for existence.