Printing words that have multiple meanings allows this work to be personalized by the viewer; people read and understand according to their own context. In some cases, RESIST can mean outright protest, pushing back against perceived injustices in aggressive ways. RESIST can also indicate a passive, non-violent method for change. You choose.
Next Life...Installation 1
The impact of the fashion industry on our environment has been a subject of much research and protest. I've followed the discussion with mixed feelings. Yes, we buy, wear, and throw away too many clothes. And yes, updating our wardrobe to reflect our identity is also important. Many creatives are finding ways to recycle, and more people are deciding to buy less, and wear longer.
I'm creating a body of work that explores the imprint of apparel on both the environment and our selves. Following the idea of using the clothing as a weed barrier, this first installation suggests the ways our culture is divided by race. After some time, there will be a pattern of dead vegetation left under the cloth.
Next Life...connecting
Over a year ago, I purchased 5 garbage bags of used clothing for $25. I promised to give new life to 441 total garments. Other projects have come and gone, and this work continues.
I took 4 to a community printing party, and they found a second life with new imagery. I took 10 more into my own closet, and made 2 gathering bags from nylon running shorts. The plastic bags I was using to collect plants for dyeing were getting torn up on thorns and branches. These new tougher bags will last, and are just the right size for the amount of plant material I can carry. Making weed-guards from 4 pairs of shorts sewn into a square, with a center opening will protect young trees from water and nutrient thieves nearby.
