There are two bodies of artwork for the installation “Stand Against Hate.”
“The candle symbolizes light in the darkness of life especially individual life, illumination; it is the symbol of holy illumination of the spirit of truth”
Both bodies of work presented incorporate light and wax as mediums.
The first body of work is seven pieces of both original and found imagery around a central triptych. The pieces are images printed on transparencies, covered with wax, and illuminated from behind in wood lightbox frames. Each frame has pieces that extend out at the top and bottom. This symbolizes reach, when the pieces are installed and viewed as one piece it is as if each piece is reaching out to another piece and beyond the body of work, and the ideas it is discussing, as a continuation or relay of the conversation. Along with the reference to the candle, light, and truth, a conceptual intention was to use the wax to mute, mask, or suppress the message, as hate desires to oppress, suppress, or silence another. Visually the sheets of wax over the images create a muted dreamlike feeling that seems to question the reality of the image by revealing something that is beautiful but slightly visually unclear.
For the second body of work, transparencies of found portraits of victims of hate crimes are displayed in wood light boxes. Brushed wax is on the face of the lightboxes once again referencing the candle and its symbolic reference of illumination and truth. As part of this section of the installation, graphs and statistics were projected over the installed group. It is an attempt to show that they are real people and reveal how these real people are, unfortunately, so often reduced to a statistic, which is a fact that both the viewer and the work bear witness to.
In both bodies of work I also reference illumination by literally illuminating the work with LED lights.
Appropriated image links:
Cracked pavement: https://classicconstruction.com/sidewalk-damage-repair-for-multifamily-and-hoas/ Line in road: https://www.dreamstime.com/yellow-line-asphalt-road-asia-image184376054Heart: https://www.cardio.com/blog/understanding-your-heart-and-how-it-functionsMusic notes from song of protest: https://musescore.com/user/11374501/scores/6209893Gears: https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/hbhiw_gears-on-a-wall-png-download-white-gears/ Brain: https://www.brainline.org/tbi-basics/interactive-brainProtest fist symbol: https://www.123rf.com/photo_125271123_stock-vector-sketch-clenched-fist-raised-up-icon-symbol-of-power-protest-demonstration-freedom-and-rebellion-agg r.htmlHands holding each other:https://www.presentermedia.com/powerpoint-animation/four-legged-race-anim-pid-13699Love not hate photo: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/20/us/stopasianhate-protest-atlanta.html New Ahmaud Arbery Image https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/26/georgia-governor-signs-hate-crime-law-following-ahmaud-arbery-shooting/3266901001/Buffalo:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/spectator-shouts-coward-buffalo-shooting-suspect-court-appearance-rcna29598Officer and military woman victims of hate crime https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/06/winthrop-pays-tribute-to-retired-state-trooper-david-l-green-and-air-force-veteran-ramona-cooper-victims-of-hate-crime.htmlPittsburg Synagogue Shooting https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pittsburgh-shooting-victims-identified-tree-of-life-synagogue-deadly-shooting-squirrel-hill-2018-10-29/