Artist Statement
This series is an exploration of our nation’s legacy of idolizing capital, ‘success,’ and the pursuit of the American Dream. This country, more or less, was founded and built up by people who were willing to do terrible things in order to survive and thrive. This is still the case in modern times, but the people who are being exploited are less visible. Bloodshed is behind closed doors. ‘Colorblindness’ and white fragility halt our conversations on what is earned and unearned, fair and unfair. Our national vocabulary makes it easy and convenient to objectify people. Everything we want in order to be fulfilled can be found on sale right around any major U.S. holiday. To be a good citizen is to make money and spend money. Time is money. God chooses to ‘bless’ some people with nice houses and cars and college, and some with nothing. The race is relentless and occupies all that we know and understand about the world.
And it’s exhausting.
When I let it, this legacy fills me with anger and hate, as I see it do to countless people around me. When we’re so tired, it’s hard to listen, hard to see with new eyes, hard to open our hearts and accept truths that feel so unreal. But it gets easier. And it starts with paying due respect to the radical legacies in our history that have fought and still fight on the sides of freedom, generosity, and higher understanding. It starts with tough, unabashed honesty.
This series is an exploration of our nation’s legacy of idolizing capital, ‘success,’ and the pursuit of the American Dream. This country, more or less, was founded and built up by people who were willing to do terrible things in order to survive and thrive. This is still the case in modern times, but the people who are being exploited are less visible. Bloodshed is behind closed doors. ‘Colorblindness’ and white fragility halt our conversations on what is earned and unearned, fair and unfair. Our national vocabulary makes it easy and convenient to objectify people. Everything we want in order to be fulfilled can be found on sale right around any major U.S. holiday. To be a good citizen is to make money and spend money. Time is money. God chooses to ‘bless’ some people with nice houses and cars and college, and some with nothing. The race is relentless and occupies all that we know and understand about the world.
And it’s exhausting.
When I let it, this legacy fills me with anger and hate, as I see it do to countless people around me. When we’re so tired, it’s hard to listen, hard to see with new eyes, hard to open our hearts and accept truths that feel so unreal. But it gets easier. And it starts with paying due respect to the radical legacies in our history that have fought and still fight on the sides of freedom, generosity, and higher understanding. It starts with tough, unabashed honesty.
