Inspired by Kintsugi, a centuries old Japanese technique where pottery is mended by seams of gold and an object is celebrated for its history, breakage, and repair, this self portrait seeks to explore this concept in relationship to oneself. This work reflects the experiences of a transgender artist who is celebrating imperfections, healing, strength, and the beauty that lies within by covering his gender affirmation surgery scars with gold.
This photo project was inspired by Japanese Kintsukuroi, where they repair broken pottery with gold and celebrate the history of the object, as well as its breakage and repair. From an American perspective, what if we did the same with ourselves? This work seeks to celebrate our imperfections, our healing, our strength, and the beauty that lies within that.
2018, Inkjet Print.
Photography: Paige Salmon
Catalyzing the fight for reformation to our nation’s gun laws, Do You Think I Could Reach You? is an installation composed of documentation of a performance.
The artist has created a hand knotted chain composed of over 239 individual segments of fabric. Each three-foot segment of red cotton fabric represents one school shooting that has taken place in the United States since the incident at Sandy Hook in 2014. Already over a quarter mile in length, the chain continues to grow as each tragedy happens. Do You Think I Could Reach You? illustrates communication breakdowns and fundamental differences in core beliefs. No matter how long the art object gets, there will still be some people who cannot be reached by the message, either physically or metaphorically. The Performance, which culminates at the steps of city hall, references the convergence of protesters during mass movements. The act of unraveling over 700 feet of fabric demonstrates the insurmountable losses experienced by our communities in light of these tragedies.
2018, Documentation of a Performance.
Photography: Paige Salmon
2018, Installation.
Our Hearts Are the Same is a wood carving that reflects on the fact that no matter a person’s race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion, we are all the same on the inside.
2015, Wood Carving.
Bro(T)herhood is a relief sculpture, which depicts the acceptance of a female-to-male transgender man as he transitions into a "brother." With the transgender pride flag in the back, this is a plaster casting of the artist’s brother's arm grabbing onto theirs. It is meant to represent the strong bonds of brotherhood and is symbolic of acceptance.
2016, Plaster Wood.
Transitioning is a series of relief sculptures, hung side by side, depicting one of the processes of physical transition for transgender individuals. The shingled backgrounds are meant to speak to the idea that our bodies are our houses, and that in the process of battling gender dysphoria, transgender individuals rebuild.
2015, Plaster, Wood.
