Black is the Day, Black is the Night
(2009-present)
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Recently shown:
Carnegie Art Museum, CA (Dec 12, 2009)
Bushwick Open Studios (June 4-6, 2010)
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Black is the Day, Black is the Night explores identity using concepts of time, accumulation, memory and distance through personal correspondence with men serving life and deathrow sentences in some of the most maximum security prisons in the U.S., all of which had served between 13-26 years at point of contact.
Over the past year I have constructed images using formulas specific to each inmate’s shared story, age and years incarcerated; where the ratio of years spent in prison to years alive determines the level of image loss or layer accumulation. Through these formulas their portraits become more unrecognizable and their memories (sky, ocean, etc) become more muddled, regurgitated and fictional with the endless passing years of their life or deathrow sentence. Stripped of personal context and placed in solitary cells, their sense of identity, memory and time can’t help but mutate.
While some pieces were created using these formulas, as well as letter excerpts, Google maps and appropriated images- other pieces were reconstructed or sought out online using descriptions in letters of items either handmade by the inmate or otherwise allowed in cells (homemade jump rope, fictional bookshelf, food tray).
This project explores ideas of identity, but is also meant to bring light and raise questions about our nations prison systems and use of capitol punishment. I remain in touch with all of my pen pals to this day, minus one whose execution went through in September 2009.
"I have asked myself if I have rather become so used to the company of my solitude that I no longer feel the passing of years and instead am grateful to have life pass with my every moment of existence as if the years were simply minutes."
-
Recently shown:
Carnegie Art Museum, CA (Dec 12, 2009)
Bushwick Open Studios (June 4-6, 2010)
-
Black is the Day, Black is the Night explores identity using concepts of time, accumulation, memory and distance through personal correspondence with men serving life and deathrow sentences in some of the most maximum security prisons in the U.S., all of which had served between 13-26 years at point of contact.
Over the past year I have constructed images using formulas specific to each inmate’s shared story, age and years incarcerated; where the ratio of years spent in prison to years alive determines the level of image loss or layer accumulation. Through these formulas their portraits become more unrecognizable and their memories (sky, ocean, etc) become more muddled, regurgitated and fictional with the endless passing years of their life or deathrow sentence. Stripped of personal context and placed in solitary cells, their sense of identity, memory and time can’t help but mutate.
While some pieces were created using these formulas, as well as letter excerpts, Google maps and appropriated images- other pieces were reconstructed or sought out online using descriptions in letters of items either handmade by the inmate or otherwise allowed in cells (homemade jump rope, fictional bookshelf, food tray).
This project explores ideas of identity, but is also meant to bring light and raise questions about our nations prison systems and use of capitol punishment. I remain in touch with all of my pen pals to this day, minus one whose execution went through in September 2009.
"I have asked myself if I have rather become so used to the company of my solitude that I no longer feel the passing of years and instead am grateful to have life pass with my every moment of existence as if the years were simply minutes."
