Legacy, 2021
organza
60 x 240 in (first panel), 60 x 483 in (7 panels), 60 x 690 in (end panel)
This work is a response to an interview done by then President Donald Trump in Summer 2020 six months into the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump was asked how the virus is under control when 1,000 Americans are dying each day. His response, "They are dying, that's true. And you have — it is what it is..." It came across as so dismissive of the pain and loss US citizens were experiencing. He was in THE position to make a difference and lead by example. I thought about the incredible loss of life and wanted to illustrate that loss with the president's phrase incorporated. There are nine panels of organza and follows the path of loss the pandemic caused. The first panel has a few scattered holes as the panels progress the holes become denser and denser. By the third panel there is an indication of grids starting, the holes are coalescing into letters spelling the phrase, "IT IS WHAT". The holes become huge vacancies with an unknown number of deaths represented. By the last panel, the phrase is "IT IS WHAT IT IS". No more scattered holes, all the loss is contained in those words.
60 x 240 in (first panel), 60 x 483 in (7 panels), 60 x 690 in (end panel)
This work is a response to an interview done by then President Donald Trump in Summer 2020 six months into the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump was asked how the virus is under control when 1,000 Americans are dying each day. His response, "They are dying, that's true. And you have — it is what it is..." It came across as so dismissive of the pain and loss US citizens were experiencing. He was in THE position to make a difference and lead by example. I thought about the incredible loss of life and wanted to illustrate that loss with the president's phrase incorporated. There are nine panels of organza and follows the path of loss the pandemic caused. The first panel has a few scattered holes as the panels progress the holes become denser and denser. By the third panel there is an indication of grids starting, the holes are coalescing into letters spelling the phrase, "IT IS WHAT". The holes become huge vacancies with an unknown number of deaths represented. By the last panel, the phrase is "IT IS WHAT IT IS". No more scattered holes, all the loss is contained in those words.