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Statement

I am a sneaky feminist. I use humor, as well as familiar visual formats such as Japanese cartoon styling, to lure the viewer into the work. Once I have the viewer’s attention, I impart my gender-agenda through characters placed in twisted narratives.

My current series, entitled “The Construction of Modern Girlhood,” addresses the salable "girl power” myth and the media's pressure on girls. Through narrative prints, works on paper, and sculpture, I am creating an alternate universe run by animé -style female construction workers who build monuments to girlhood for worship. The work is full of detail and color, portraying construction sites studded with hearts and tulips. I want the viewer to initially think, “Right-on, girl power” However, closer inspection reveals that the animé characters are creating false monuments to girlhood for worship (giant platform sandals, lipgloss, and “pretty pony” statues have little to do with true girl power).

Throughout the building process, the ruthless construction cuties employ a small army of teddy bears, who represent innocent girls transformed by the media. The bears are first harvested, and then processed into sexy, submissive workers who must toil on the build sites.

In addition to the animé girls and teddy bears, there is a third character set that includes ultra-cute “lambie” animals. These animals are metaphors for the seductive “kawaii” (Japanese term for “cute”) trend and take an honored place in the twisted universe I am creating. After ingesting the mediaÕs onslaught of cuteness/sex/beauty messages, these sacred animals “poop” out artist books depicting iconographic images in brown and white.

Most recently, I’ve created some prints and an installation featuring a boat image, borrowed from an anonymous Japanese woodblock print from 1853. The source image portrayed Commodore Perry’s ship as a demonic invader entering Tokyo bay. I adapted the “evil invader” concept to my “Construction of Modern Girlhood” narrative by employing my regular cast of characters.