On September 29, 2024, there was a closing reception and ceremony.
The project “what was it before it was gone?” is a reflection on collective loss and grief in our contemporary society in the wake of the events of 2020. The resulting work—a four-sided memorial—explores four distinct aspects of societal loss: the impacts of Covid-19, climate grief, the erosion of social justice, and the retreat of bodily autonomy. Each side of the memorial honors these tragedies, offering a space for reflection and to grieve these losses.
Through this project, I aim to create a contemplative space where viewers can reflect on what has been lost while inviting them to consider what is worth preserving. The work extends into a new series of smaller memorials as altars, shifting the focus from loss to the desire for preservation—celebrating resilience, connection, and the things that matter most.
By creating a series of assemblage altars using a mix of found objects, air-dry clay, and other materials, these new memorials will create a multifaceted narrative that encourages personal reflection and collective healing.
This project is deeply rooted in my ongoing research into public art’s role in memory and storytelling. I have been exploring how monuments shape cultural narratives and contribute to our shared experience of history, particularly through the lens of what is memorialized and whose stories are told, and how these stories can create harm or care. The expansion of this work reflects the urgency of addressing loss and preservation in an era marked by social and environmental crises. It is a call to pause and reflect on what has been irreparably altered. Through this, I hope to offer an emotional and intellectual space for healing, contemplation, and community.
Through this project, I aim to create a contemplative space where viewers can reflect on what has been lost while inviting them to consider what is worth preserving. The work extends into a new series of smaller memorials as altars, shifting the focus from loss to the desire for preservation—celebrating resilience, connection, and the things that matter most.
By creating a series of assemblage altars using a mix of found objects, air-dry clay, and other materials, these new memorials will create a multifaceted narrative that encourages personal reflection and collective healing.
This project is deeply rooted in my ongoing research into public art’s role in memory and storytelling. I have been exploring how monuments shape cultural narratives and contribute to our shared experience of history, particularly through the lens of what is memorialized and whose stories are told, and how these stories can create harm or care. The expansion of this work reflects the urgency of addressing loss and preservation in an era marked by social and environmental crises. It is a call to pause and reflect on what has been irreparably altered. Through this, I hope to offer an emotional and intellectual space for healing, contemplation, and community.
These podcasts are great resources to understand the role of grief in our changing society and help inform some of the development of "What Was it Before it Was Gone?"
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pH1PO3fffZY3MHPi3NrNS?si=dmTIKSBjSxaJ_LyGY75vfg
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MYUtDZIA0ESwmgii768V9?si=zlHvNgFzSnq9tJhbT34d6A
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pH1PO3fffZY3MHPi3NrNS?si=dmTIKSBjSxaJ_LyGY75vfg
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MYUtDZIA0ESwmgii768V9?si=zlHvNgFzSnq9tJhbT34d6A
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OUR MISSION
At the Root LLC, provides resources and events for artists, mission-driven small business, and non-profit organizations to nourish and support social justice work through art, food, and community events.
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CONTACT
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802.391.0598 |