BE A LADY
CONCEPT
My work is a physical representation of the effects sexual assault has on mental health. It not only captures my story but those who have bravely shared their attacks with me. My work brings awareness not only to the event but to what happens to the person following their attack. How their view of themselves changes after their humanity has been stripped in such an aggressive way. My audiences should find my pieces hauntingly beautiful as they embody decay alongside rebirth. These pieces are not meant to capture a single moment but an ongoing mental battle.
I focus on unconventional materials that often could be found in an everyday home. I am drawn to these as they are a constant like the constant mental strain these events have on a person. I often use typically feminine techniques and materials such as sewing, needlework, and string. As many of these stories I tell are from the perspective of women. These materials also convey a sense of submission. I have incorporated donated clothing from assault survivors in many of my pieces. These articles carry a weight of memory on them that has a heavy presence in a piece. I feel by using these pieces gives back power to the victims. My work is made to bring the heavy and often unapproachable topic of assault and mental health to the forefront of the viewer's mind. No matter if they have experienced these types of events or not these pieces should bring a level of understanding to the never-ending journey a victim goes through.
UNRAVELED
Assault goes beyond a single act. It’s something that has to be carried from that moment on. It ripples into thoughts and behavior destroying any sense of normalcy. It doesn’t end with time, with sentencing, with distance, or with death. Assault is held within the victim for the rest of their life crying the mental and or physical marks.
Healing from assault goes beyond a moment.
Each article of clothing was donated by a victim of assault in hopes to spread awareness
SOMNIPHOBIA
The swarm of intrusive thoughts that keep me up at night. The uncomfortable, loud, vivid thoughts.
BALANCING ACT (BE A LADY)
“Be a lady they said. Save yourself. Be pure. Be virginal. Don’t talk about sex. Don’t flirt. Don’t be a skank. Don’t be a whore. Don’t sleep around. Don’t lose your dignity. Don’t have sex with too many men. Don’t give yourself away. Men don’t like sluts. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be so uptight. Have a little fun. Smile more. Pleasure men. Be experienced. Be sexual. Be innocent. Be dirty. Be virginal. Be sexy. Be the cool girl. Don’t be like the other girls.
Just “be a lady” they said.”
-Camille Rainville’s “Be a Lady, They Said.”
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
PHOBIA
Fear no matter how irrational still gives off the same physical response. There is a separation between what we fear and what we logically know to be true.
PRIMARY
