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Texas, State of the Union, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 22" x 28" Against the backdrop of Texas Roadhouse, Cadillac Ranch, Prada Installation, the longhorn state animal and state flag, Yosemite Sam and the long road floats bubbles with targeted animals like dogs in Texas A&M U testing, exposed captive cows in massive feedlots, killing contests and children chasing and bagging- then roasting young pigs, and helicopter shooting families of feral pigs. |
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Texas, State of the Union (detail) |
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Vermont, State of the Union, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 30" x 18" Vermont; home to Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont Teddy Bear, maple syrup, with skiing, fall colors, the Morgan horse state animal, and the Hermit Thrush bird making up the landscape. In bubbles are animals hidden and used in entertainment. A turkey farm with turkeys barely able to move, horses pulling concrete blocks in pulling contests, a hunting culture, and killing contests of wolves and coyotes (recently banned!). A dairy factory farm pollutes the waterways, takes baby calves from mothers who are tethered to milking machines, both kept from anything natural. Milk is dumped with surpluses due the pandemic. |
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Vermont, State of the Union (detail) |
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My paintings center on our complex relationship with animals. I am both intrigued and disturbed by our insensitivity to animals raised in captivity versus the casting of human traits on our pampered pets. My work creates an unnatural stage for the animals’ situation to point out people’s tendency to impose their own agenda. The bubble, the empty road and the pedestal serve as metaphor for how the animal is separated from its natural intended life.
Currently I am in the midst of a series called State of the Union. The series includes the 50 states as a way to examine the exploitation of animals in each state alongside the desirable, fun image that state would like to project. The completed series will exhibit at the New Bedford Art Museum in 2023. My curatorial projects exist alongside my studio practice trusting in the power of the visual arts to give voice to the voiceless.