ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
Material culture is a catalyst for interaction and communication among human beings. Body Adornment is at its root a universal language - a basic utilitarian need as well as a vehicle for social and cultural expression. Though primarily a form of visual communication, it is an art form that we engage with at a high level of intimacy - physically, emotionally, and psychologically… and primarily subconsciously. Though it is a language spoken many different ways and for many different purposes, it is understood through symbols and tactility, binding us together while simultaneously setting us apart. I strive to make work that connects us both literally and metaphorically, teaching us that familiarity and normativity is subjective. My work seeks to expand this subjectivity in my audience through examining objecthood as it pertains to aesthetics versus function.
I am investigating the transformative nature of cloth and clothing as it pertains to the natural world, the body, and the psyche. This work examines value and function while attempting to deconstruct and deprogram consumer behavior and uses speculative design practices to generate objects which cross categorical boundaries and promote inclusivity. Much of my research and work revolves around drawing out innovative and alternative forms of engagement. I am expanding upon a recent project entitled Garb, a series of modular textile components that assemble in various ways as clothing, costume, accessories, shelter, and art objects offering an alternative to the garment industry, reconfiguring our understanding of functionality and reframing our role as consumers, designers, and participants in a destructive industry, cultivating meaningful and creative interactions with clothes. These pieces are created with the following social and environmental impacts in mind: zero waste pattern-making, upcycled or natural materials and dyes, creative agency, gender neutrality, size inclusivity, and non-attachment therapy. This praxis requires a sense of ignorance and leads to a deeper understanding of energy, physics, and process and which provides viable solutions for progress and change. Naiveté is the knife that pierces the heart of dogma. Riding these waves of energy and using the natural processes of the earth as a model for new technology and engineering solutions will allow us to move away from destructive practices and towards a more productive role on this planet.