Ritual Identity // Righteous Indignation

displayed at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Residents’ Exhibition, September 2020

Ritual Identity // Righteous Indignation explores the artist’s ongoing internal process of identifying and deprogramming destructive internalized socializations linked to race, assigned gender, sexuality, class, and physical and cognitive ability.

The works track a contemplation of femininity and the Divine Feminine from the perspective of a genderqueer person, assigned female at birth (AFAB). This exploration culminates with the recognition and appreciation that the protection and power of the Divine Feminine can- and should be- sought and celebrated by all.

Decomposition, the breaking down of that which is no longer needed in order to feed new life, is an essential process in the life cycle of the natural world. When applied internally and to human systems: this makes room for growth and improvement individually and as a society. We have to not only let go of parts of ourselves or our systems, but actively break them down and stop them from choking out the parts we wish to nurture. We must actively break down internalizations of superiority based on race and class; symptoms and systems of patriarchy such as homophobia, transphobia, gender norms and expectations based on a false gender binary, violence against non-men including rape, sexual assault, and harassment; and the capitalist ideal that we are only worth our productivity.

Amid self-realization and embracing the process of decomposition, the artist made an overarching intentional practice of letting go of the notion that anything is completely within our control. Perfectionism as a practice in art, weaving and printmaking particularly, has its place, but also largely serves to gate-keep the art and craft world. Perfectionism as a human internal expectation is a tool and symptom of internalized white superiority and serves to feed harmful self-critique, depression, anxiety, and isolation.

Letting go of the false concept of control means recognizing how much one can do and letting the rest become, living and working with intention, and being prepared and committed to accept and learn from the impact and outcomes even - and especially - when mistakes are made and harm is caused.

Alongside the work of breaking down, there is also the work of rebuilding and bolstering an understanding of one’s own personal identities to allow us to live into self-love and compassion while also ensuring a robust understanding of our complex identities and the position and privileges we hold in our communities and the world. It is only with a full view of oneself that we are able to acknowledge and adapt our impacts on the people and communities around us and support positive change.

why yes, my body is a vessel, and it is already full of me - parts i, ii, iii, & iv
    14” x 27”, 13” x 26”
    handwoven wool, ikat warp, naturally dyed with black walnut

of decomposition and liminality  i, ii, & iii
    11” x 14”, 8.5” x 11”, 7” x 13”
    handwoven wool, naturally dyed with black walnut, aluminum wire

to live in the grace of the uncontrollable; altar cloth
    15” x 30.5”
    handwoven wool, ikat weft, naturally dyed with black walnut

crossroads; altar cloth
    14” x 20”
    handwoven wool, inlay, naturally dyed with black walnut

earth diamond; altar cloth
    15” x 18.5”
    handwoven wool, inlay, naturally dyed with black walnut

dragon eye deck: for meditation, protection, connection, and conjuring
    box - 4” x 4” x 3/8”
    paper and book board, relief printed with handwoven fibers and linocut

   cards - 3.5” x 3.5”
paper, relief printed with handwoven fibers and linocut

       androgyne
crossroads
eight-fold interlacement
earth diamond
earth sign
love charm
money charm
star of the seven sisters
three-rayed sun
triceps
triple alpha
triple ring
twelve-point interlacement