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"Labor Movement"
Mixed Media Performance at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art 2016 While dawning the uniform of a CEO and shackled to a cinderblock, I carried cinderblocks throughout the audience during an "ICA Live" performance for two hours. The first act consisted of me creating a suburban street scape out of cinderblocks, and in the second act I deconstructed it into a single home. This time I integrated the brick that I was attached to into the design, effectively chaining myself to the house. After failing to walk away, I reached into my suitcase and pulled out a pair of bolt cutters and set myself free. The "American Dream" is getting more allusive each day, especially in the Bay Area. The class striations only widen, and without greater empathy and understanding, people's labor will become a complete commodity. |
"Face to the Faceless"
Mixed Media Performance at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
2015
While dressed in a Christina Dior suit, the traditional "uniform" of a CEO, I carried cinderblocks one-by-one from outside the Museum into the gallery space, constructing a complete wall in the process. By executing this act of labor not in the usual garb of a laborer, but instead in the suit we associate with higher class jobs, I explore the power shift that occurs for the viewer as the work is perhaps elevated to a higher status. I hope to bring into question the discrepancy of class between laborers and executives, and the huge power shift we have witnessed in recent history within our own American labor force. While I built the cinderblock wall within the gallery space, the backdrop was many blue collars that I had previously snapped in chalk to create the sense of an "army" of faceless, voiceless and forgotten laborers in America. At the end of the performance, I draped an American flag that I sewed out of worker's pants and suits over the wall to show the intricate ways in which our classes are intertwined and how we will need to work together in order to break down these barriers in our understanding.
Mixed Media Performance at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
2015
While dressed in a Christina Dior suit, the traditional "uniform" of a CEO, I carried cinderblocks one-by-one from outside the Museum into the gallery space, constructing a complete wall in the process. By executing this act of labor not in the usual garb of a laborer, but instead in the suit we associate with higher class jobs, I explore the power shift that occurs for the viewer as the work is perhaps elevated to a higher status. I hope to bring into question the discrepancy of class between laborers and executives, and the huge power shift we have witnessed in recent history within our own American labor force. While I built the cinderblock wall within the gallery space, the backdrop was many blue collars that I had previously snapped in chalk to create the sense of an "army" of faceless, voiceless and forgotten laborers in America. At the end of the performance, I draped an American flag that I sewed out of worker's pants and suits over the wall to show the intricate ways in which our classes are intertwined and how we will need to work together in order to break down these barriers in our understanding.
"Build Them Up; Take Them Down"
Mixed Media Performance
2014
This performance from the Berkeley Art Center showed the complicated dichotomy between CEO's and their labor force. Throughout the opening, I moved the cinderblock wall outside with a wheelbarrow only to immediately move it back to where it came from. Executing this futile act of labor, while dressed in the uniform of a CEO, brings to question the discrepancy of labors and executives, as well as the shift in perspective of the American dream. The performance culminated with the draping of an American flag made out of white and blue-collar worker uniforms over the wall to show the continued pride in our country that our workforce still holds. This action represents the importance of our cooperation as a society, and the necessity for us to work together to achieve success as a nation.
Mixed Media Performance
2014
This performance from the Berkeley Art Center showed the complicated dichotomy between CEO's and their labor force. Throughout the opening, I moved the cinderblock wall outside with a wheelbarrow only to immediately move it back to where it came from. Executing this futile act of labor, while dressed in the uniform of a CEO, brings to question the discrepancy of labors and executives, as well as the shift in perspective of the American dream. The performance culminated with the draping of an American flag made out of white and blue-collar worker uniforms over the wall to show the continued pride in our country that our workforce still holds. This action represents the importance of our cooperation as a society, and the necessity for us to work together to achieve success as a nation.
"The Value of Labor"
Concrete Road Cones, Cart, Christian Dior Suit, Prada Shoes, White Leather Gloves, Shirt, Necktie, Hardhat, Comb
2010 From 1990 to 2005 there has been a drastic difference in the rates of increase of salaries of CEOs and factory workers. During that time corporate profits increased by 106.7%, the average pay increase of CEOs was 298.2%, and the average pay increase of factory workers was 4.3%. "The Value of Labor" was a three-hour performance during which I moved a total of 10,000 lbs. By playing the role of the laborer dressed as a CEO, I called into question this pay discrepancy and how we treat our blue-collar workers. |
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"We Are All Wisconsin"Concrete Road Cones, Soap Squeegees, Ladder, Bucket, Briefcase, Window, Christian Dior Suit, Prada Shoes, White Leather Gloves, Shirt, DOT Necktie, Hardhat, Comb
2011 This performance was part of a visiting artist lecture that I gave at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nevada. It was inspired by the recent legislation passed in Wisconsin to roll back benefits for public workers to make up for budget shortfalls. The message was one repeated across America in multiple state capitols where people were chanting "We are all Wisconsin" in solidarity with the protestors camped out in the capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin. |
"Solidarity"
I performed “Solidarity” in conjunction with UAW4123, the union of Teaching Associates, Graduate Assistants, and Tutors at a rally on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011. With a rise in tuition of 242% over the last decade, the CSU model of accessible, affordable, and quality education for every Californian is in serious trouble. Within this same decade, the CSU system’s Chancellor, Charles B. Reed’s salary has increased from $254,404 to a whopping $451,500. We need to once again rise up and take a stand against these huge inequalities if we are going to save our public university system here in California.
*Photo credits to Jenna Barjam
*Photo credits to Jenna Barjam
