art builds: 2018-25
narrative
Art builds are an essential cultural organizing practice and production. In these spaces, everyday people are both taught and participate in the production of materials for social actions. Over the course of around 2 years, I have facilitated making over 10,000 pieces of art that were distributed across at least 40 states.
What is unique about this practice is understanding social action as a three dimensional space. Pieces are crafted imagining every side of an action. Materials such as paper parasols and parachutes were experimented with to be viewed from above, while muslin fabric was the dominant fabric used to produce banners and signage. Legalities were researched about using wood or plastic to build structures for signage that moves, as well as those that stand upright with no movement.
research
visuals
Visual narrative in social movements have two functions: Identity formation and the tactical taking up of space during a social action. In the former, pieces large and small were produced to both be carried and most importantly worn. Thousands of patches were crated with muslin fabric to be sown, along with small elements disabled participants could carry easily. Taking up space was designed and executed via temporary street murals, to large banners held together with recycled rubber tubes used for bicycles. Street murals, 10’ vertical banners, large horizontal banners painted parachutes, etc. were designed to mark location than it is to express the identity of participants in movement. Static and moving pieces are balanced via strategy.