(Ex)change
(Ex)change
A Career Opportunity Grant provided by The Oregon Art Commission and Ford Family Foundation made this exhibition possible
Art installation at the Bush Barn Art Center January 16 - February 21, 2015
My work is political and makes commentary on social and environmental justice issues. I seduce the viewer to come close, open up, be courageous, and make connections between power, greed, and exploitation. My work has evolved to contemplate the fabric of the United States of America. How this country was founded on racism and genocide. Misogyny is pervasive— a president, a Supreme Court Justice both skirt sexual assault accusations without consequence. Gun violence and hate crimes are a common occurrence while at the same time Black people are killed by police and not held accountable at an alarming rate. I want to shine a light on these hypocrisies - engage the viewer to make connections between a global economy based on capitalism; the exploitation of women’s bodies and our world’s natural resources; institutional racism and sexism embedded in our education system, healthcare system, constitution, democracy, criminal justice system, and military; sexual violence in pornography that shapes rape culture; and the intersection between poverty, lack of education, and the necessity to provide for one’s children. Power and money guide decisions that are creating environmental degradation at an irreversible cost. The ramifications affect the most vulnerable – especially women and children around the world. The inequity between nations and individuals based on their position in life is insurmountable unless we make a radical shift. I am talking about flipping the world upside down and leveling the playing field. People of privilege must give up their position. For that to happen we each need to look in the mirror and instigate radical change.