You Turd.
I probably shouldn’t share this but everyday when I wake up my routine is to get a cup of coffee in order to shield myself with as strong a caffeinated-coat-of-armor before diving into the New York Times. And then ... I begin to scream — thankfully inside my head. I yell, “YOU TURD” as I pour through nearly every article that mostly seems to display irritating horrible human behavior. Touching on subjects and issues that make me so mad, this series has a poop emoji embedded within each piece. And, since nothing else seems very funny these days, I figure a little bit of humor never hurts, plus it’s kind of like finding Waldo in the midst of one's despair.
2023
22 x 21 inches
Textile Collage
Don't Make Me Come In There - highlights something relevant for today, as it references the upcoming battle that will likely ensue over passing the upcoming budget. Using snippets from a longer article that can be read in the New York Times titled, "Meet the Women Trying to Avoid a Spending Train Wreck in Congress". So here we go ... Did you know, ,"For the first time, the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are all women, as is the top White House budget official." And, while this group of email politicians have vastly different political profiles, "Ms. Murray and Ms Delauro are both liberals, Ms Collins is a center-leaning Republican and Ms Granger is a staunch conservative" "they have all experienced versions of the same struggle on Capitol Hill; the hustle to get recognized, the extra layer of scrutiny from male colleagues, and often being the only woman in the room". With that said, they are each determined to "bring some sanity and orderliness to the spending debate". And this part I LOVE, when Susan Collins stated, "We do bring different experiences, and in my experience, are often more collaborative that our male counterparts" so "we will work together as a team, knowing that it is going to be difficult. But I think that new leadership and sometimes, ironically, a divided Congress politically can plant the seeds for good compromise". I know you might be rolling your eyes right about now but, honestly ... I feel way more hopeful than I was ten minutes before reading the article.
2023
Textile Collage
Inspired by my outrage over those who are banning books in public schools and libraries, as this is not something not be taken lightly. "Between July 2021 to June 2022, the PEN American's school book ban index has listed 2,532 instance of individual books which have been banned, and from those 5,049 schools have been affected, with a combines enrollment of nearly 4 million students". And the numbers by now have likely increased. Most subjects of these books have been related to race or sexuality. Other times in U.S. history when this type of censorship has taken place can be recalled from the days of McCarthyism. Given that we are under a tumultuous political umbrella, with our discourse between each other so fraught, it seems to me there is tremendous value in reading from the lends of those who previously might not have been afforded a voice in our societal past, that these books only offer a positive outcome by existing on the bookshelves. So poo poo to you Ron DeSantis and all others of your ilk.
2023
20 x 21 inches
Textile Collage
What is wrong with our government that we cannot get the necessarily legislation passed in order to stop mass shootings from happening?
2023
22 x 24 inches
Textile Collage
With Lake Mead rapidly shrinking, and reading about Rio Verde Foothills which just had their water turned off indefinitely by the city of Scottsdale (many of the homes there cost 500K and up) I'm just not sure what it's going to take to get everyone to WAKE THE FUCK UP! But hey ... if you have a pool ... I guess everything is okie dokie!
2023
20 x 21 inches
textile collage
I'm not a Republican but if I was ... I can't imagine being willing to allow my affiliation to align itself with the likes of the Proud Boys, election deniers, and the NRA. Personally, I believe that the majority of us have similar concerns, hopes, and dreams, then those who are often the LOUDEST and usually the most egregious. So stand up and say NO MORE as this continues to be a storm in a teacup ready to boil over.
2023
18 x 21 inches
Textile Collage
With the Supreme court balance completely shifted since the tremendous loss of RBG, it seems as though nearly every case ruled on these days is just one disaster after another. The wolves, as seen on the boat, must have surely disguised themselves in order to be enlisted to join the voyage of the biblical "Ark". Yet, once grounded, they exposed themselves for who they were ... not as they claimed creatures of kindness who wanted to be included on what was surely meant to be a humanitarian mission, but rather evangelicals out to save all those who don't believe what they do.