Sweet Faced (2020-)

Much of my current practice investigates the sweetness and tradition that saturates the American South. There is a dichotomy that exists within it that I am drawn to, especially as a woman. 2020 brought an abrupt and extended period of time where I was truly able to examine elements of my life on a foundational level. I found myself, like many others, angry and frustrated. With the world, injustice, with myself, and the surroundings that I was staring at every day.  I was raised to welcome anyone to my table, and feed them well. I was raised to be kind, but sometimes at the cost of making myself small.  But this sweetness can serve as an excuse, a lure, a sparkling gem that then stuns you and blinds you. I grew up being told that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Honey is golden, pleasing, smooth. But it is also sticky, like quicksand for the tongue. What a welcoming facade. Perhaps, we need all the vinegar we can get.