Signs from the Women's March series (2017) with Parody Propaganda series (2017).
Modern Propaganda
While creating Signs from the Women’s March (2017), I put myself into an imagined headspace of the person who originally created the sign. There is something incredibly personal about writing your greatest concerns onto a giant poster for everyone to see. On the other hand, Our Answer (2017), Doctors are Scarce (2017), and Look What’s Happening in Sweden (2017) all examine our current shrouded political climate within the context of the early 20th century. By combining contemporary rhetoric and mid-century propaganda imagery, I draw connections between the politics of then and now, placing modern discourse into a context that people more readily recognize as propaganda. These works and Signs from the Women’s March (2017) are placed on one wall, overlapping and covering each other, in order to mimic the manner in which our media present these subjects.
Though the title may lend itself to a more modern meaning, one work that focuses solely on the past is November 8th (2017). This installation work is a reflection on Kristallnacht, or the night of broken glass, a state-sanctioned day of destruction of Jewish shops and homes in Nazi Germany. The coincidence of this historical date and the most recent election is not meant to be ignored.
The idea for Postcards for Pat Toomey (2016) originally comes from the Women’s March on Washington campaign, though their postcards are not individualized for specific issues. Along with the general theme from the Women’s March, I have created each postcard to coordinate with the theme of four scheduled Spring marches in Washington and New York City. I invite people to choose a postcard themed by a broad issue they care the most about, write a specific and individualized message to Senator Toomey, and have that postcard mailed for them.
"Respect Existence or Expect Resistance," from Signs from the Women's March series, 22in x 28in, paint on poster board, 2017
"Resistance is Fertile," from Signs from the Women's March series, 36in x 48in, paint and ink on linen, 2017
"Our Bodies, Our Rights," from the Signs from the Women's March series, 22in x 28in, paint on poster board, 2017
Doctors are Scarce, from Parody Propaganda series, 24in x 36in, print, 2017
Look What's Happening in Sweden, from Parody Propaganda series, 24in x 36in, print, 2017
Our Answer, from Parody Propaganda series, 24in x 36in, print, 2017
Postcards for Pat Toomey, in Space 105, 4in x 6in, cardstock, 2017
Climate Postcard, Postcards for Pat Toomey Series, 2017
Immigration Postcard, Postcards for Pat Toomey Series, 2017
Pride Postcard, Postcards for Pat Toomey Series, 2017
Economy Postcard, Postcards for Pat Toomey Series, 2017
Women's Rights are Human Rights, 24in x 16 1/4in, glass shelf on metal supports, gold painted wooden frame with TV still, 2017
November 8th, 124in x 96in, print and glass, 2017