A subpage dedicated to the progression through the semester toward a finalized piece for ARS 495. My project is overseen by Professor Howardina Pindell and cosigned by Professor Jason Paradis.

My solo project focuses on waste, pollution, and litter created by humans that permeate our oceans and waters. Not only does this sully the water we drink and fish from, it kills the inhabitants of those waters and creates irreversible damage to our environment. Through primarily second-hand materials, I created an instillation for viewers to interact with and take pictures not only of, but interacting with. This is one of few artworks that touching is encouraged. This is so that we get a personal and intimate experience with the work itself, but also with the materials that it is created from. These materials consist of things we all find very familiar; plastic utensils, bottles, cans, drapes, and so on. Everyone who sees and interacts with this piece should feel some sort of connection from brand to material recognition. Beyond feeling more intimate and connected to the artwork (and therefore making it more memorable), I want to implicate feelings of guilt or contribution to the state of pollution within our waters. The primary goal of this piece is to connect to the audience and make them question their own responsibility for the state of the marine environment, in addition to creating a beautiful piece created from “waste” or “trash” that viewers want to photograph and be photographed with. This piece should be “insta-worthy,” and something people want to post online, so that the word of the piece and it’s message is spread beyond the Stony Brook University campus and Long Island art community.