BEHIND THE SCENES

I decided to do this project because after a semester of taking "Trans", along with my other coursework that involves social issues, I just wanted to scream. I asked my peers to write down on index cards what makes them really mad about oppression, injustice, prejudice, discrimination, racism, government policy, homophobia, transphobia, social constructions/boxes, media etc. Then I made a gallery of objects that express the heteronormative white supremacist patriarchal idealist viewpoint which makes the cyborgs/"others" others that do not belong in the box. I wanted to piss my viewers off. I wanted to throw negativity, hate, discrimination in their face in order to get their attention. I wanted to remind people of our social problems/hypocrisies because these social constructions create concrete consequences for people. I am sick and tired of pledging allegiance to a nation with so many unfulfilled promises. My release of stress was to smash a bunch of objects that represent the problems.

My project is not an attempt to solve these issues. It is a healthy protest to hopefully insight anger, frustration, and awareness so that as a society we can begin/continue to work for social change.

I'm very proud of this piece because I feel like I truly captured Shayna in art form. I artistically expressed my concerns and created an energy during the presentation, which demonstrated my intent and emotion. Call me serious, but this is my work. I enjoy learning and thinking about social problems. I cannot be apathetic. I strive to be responsible in my being everyday because I know that there are others on this planet that weren't dealt cards as lucky as mine. LUCK that's all it is! AHH!

My frustration needed to come out, so I scream! Ahhh!!! And I hope you are screaming with me! March with the Marchers! March on with us!

p.s. Special Thanks to Joao Costa Vargas for inspiration and knowledge which is evident throughout this entire piece. And my colleagues and close friends for input, support and extra hands.

THE MAKING OF

I spent 3 weeks papier maching 20 balloons that each have about 3 layers of paper. After they dried, I popped the balloon, stuffed confetti in the balloon, patched up the hole, and decorated the outside. I spent a week designing and decorating the balloons. My boyfriend, Chip, was extremely helpful and stayed up all hours of the night with me. I had a printer break on me, but we used Chip's printer to stay in business. We used poster paint and acrylic paint for the decorating. I asked my classmates in "Trans" and "Race and Social Change" to write down on index cards the issues that really piss them off. With their inspirations and my own frustrations, I was able to find the content for this project. Designing the balloons was the hardest aspect of the project because of many reasons. I had to remain in the voice of haters for days, I had to make sure I was representing ideas that no matter if you are republican, democrat, gay or straight you thought it was terrible, and I wanted to make sure the gallery had a variety.

The music I used in the presentation was Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" and Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln's "Triptych: Prayer, Protest and Peace"

This is my friend Hazel helping me.

Bonus footage: Making of the terrifying KKK head.