Last step before critique! Painted the outside of the LED lights for the sensory memory jar. All the jars are ready to be hung and shown, including the ice jar for repressed memories. Will be positing a final picture of the finished and hung installation of Memento; Requiem tomorrow.

Over the weekend, I painted and measured out my wall space for the show. Decided to test out the nails I hung to see if they carried the weight of the jar and light. Decided from this that the blue, mason jar representing sensory memories needed to be dimmer and to shine a more blue light instead of yellow. Currently working on the two other jars from the missing hooks.

Went ahead and tried to work on the broken memory jar. However, after wrapping the jar with tape, and gluing the isnide, after two days it did not stay together. Decided to use my back up jar to boil, and then epoxy the jar back together!

Start to my new project distinguishing the different types of memories through appropriation. I went ahead and bought the mason jars, and LED lights with the batteries. These jars represent how are memories are contained within the brain. However, before setting them up I soaked the jars in cold water to remove the labels. Will have more process pictures coming soon!

Mended and created the chicken wire body. Shortly after I began adding the trash I collected into the base and gluing the smaller parts inside. This is one weeks worth of trash.

Beginning of my nature project/. In order to find inspiration I went on walks around Louisville, KY. I quickly found a disruption in the beauty of nature with the large quantities of trash. This really inspired to collect and manage my own trash and create art that could bring this issue to a spot light. From this I chose to begin my tree form and trash sculpture with wire. 

Final Installation of Touch Me. Completed final layers of acrylic painting to th ebox, set up the hospital bed, and laid down the gloves for the viewerss.

Artwork Update:  Finally cut the installation board and attached the cylinder for audience interaction. Down the center of the cylinder at 5 inches, is a hard acrylic installation circle , representing the cervix in the vagina. After inserting the circle, I cut small holes into the cardboard cylinder to insert the sharpies for mark making. Lastly, I put a two layers of black acrylic paint as well as matte medium to wrinkle the illustration board. I also primed the inside of the wood and painted it black.

First steps for my new project Touch Me discussing the mapping of HPV. Cutting an old wood panel into a 12′ by 12′ box and creating an installation board lid, with a cylinder in the center. Also primed the wood for acrylic paint.

Gladys Brown or Nana Gladys Brown was a charismatic and strong woman. During the 1960’s she managed to raise 3 children as a single mother, and went on to raise one of her grandchildren. In 2009, Gladys was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Slowly over the past 8 years she has slowly lost her ability to talk or remember her family. After breaking her hip going to take her medication, Gladys had multiple complications during surgery, resulting in 3 surgeries in the process of her stay. Due to the anesthesia and the condition of her memory, her Alzheimer’s grew worse causing her to be violent toward the nurses. This caused the state to step in and take away her property and ability to live on her own.  

Julia Mellen &Lily Carothers

         In 2004, Lily and Julia met in Ms. Sorise’s 3rd grade class. Since, they have been attached at the hip. Although they have chosen different college paths, and currently live 6 hours from each other, they communicate every day. These face times, phone calls, and skype calls go on for hours and don’t even stop for Lily or Julia to take a bath. 

Dixie King Dixie King was a chunky, yet funky dog. When I was a kid I’d put his leash on and let him drag me around the house. He loved to eat chicken off the table, and steal snacks out of your hand when you weren’t looking. Unfortunately, in 2014 Dixie passed away after a neighbor beat him to death. After 3 days of internally bleeding, my family and I decided to put him down.  

Steven Wayne King, older brother of Kendra and Kevin King. Born December 22nd 1960, he was a warm and resilient child from the start. My mom recalls him once beating up a boy 2 grades ahead of him for picking up on his sister. This fierce attitude sent him to the marines at 18. However, due to his abusive upbringing there were things that Steve had trouble with overcoming. After having his daughter Natalie, and his son Drew, Steve and his wife began to have troubles. He was forced to leave his house in 2004, and on May 14th died of a drug overdose. Steve was planning to move down to Louisville, but died before receiving help. 

Mark and Kendra King

After a day at the track, Kendra and Mark were introduced by a mutual friend named Tracy. Mark accused Kendra of being a narc and after a “smart ass remark” as my dad recalls, he started chasing my mom. For months my mom dodged my father calls, finally she agreed to a quick date. My father had been recently divorced and had a 5 year old son named William, that to me became my older brother Billy.  After a year of dating and a 4th of July party, I was born the follow year on March 27th, 1996. My mom and dad have been married for 21 years.

Rose Marie Burch

Rose Marie was Kendra and Mark King’s neighbor for over 12 years. From a very young age she took care of her 12 brothers and sisters, keeping a job to pay the bills. This care taker work pushed her to be a nurse. She helped my mom through many trials and pushed me to continue making art even when I proposed many times I wasn’t good enough. Rose was a devoted Catholic, loved to draw, and loved animals. She would always come to the fence when she heard my car pull up, and with a beer in her hand always told me not to take life too seriously. In December Rose’s house was broken in, and she died from a massive heart attack from the scare. Her dog scholastica is being taken care of by my Kendra.

Danyal Anetra Whelan

 Danyal, often times called by her middle name Anetra by those close to her, was a mother of two at a rather young age. She was an aspiring model but after the birth of her second child Davin she had to navigate her life towards her other passion: animals. Until her first child, Shaina (born 5 years before Davin), turned 16 she did not live with her children and could only be involved so much. As the years passed and she became more stable, she became more active in her kids lives. On February 24th, 2009, Danyal passed away, a victim of cancer. She will always be loved.

Samantha Brown & Jt Poppe

         Sam and Jt started dating on January 25th in 2015. Sam recalls her relationship having many trials and tribulations. However, after moving in together in 2016 they both came together and realized that the love they had for one another is what should come first. Since this discussion their communication and relationship has evolved into another level. On February 14th 2016, Jt adopted Smokey a German Shephard mix for Samantha. Jt knew that Samantha wanted a dog her entire life and she finally got her wish. Samantha and Jt shortly moved out together after receiving Smokey and are still dating today.