long description:
Growing up in suburban-rural Minnesota, I was never modeled a life path outside of the most status-quo vision. I wanted to challenge the world, challenge myself, and was endlessly agitated by the cookie-cutter choices laid out before me. I knew I wanted something else, though I didn’t know what. There was no one to direct me towards the supremely niche spaces where I now exist so comfortably and gratefully. That’s why I designed this archive- to gather community and representation of those not only breaking the mold, but breaking it in the same way I have desired to my whole life, without having any idea what it looked or sounded like. It is a precious gift to my inner children, a collection of proofs to those I grew up with, and a guiding beacon to which I forge my life path.
It is presented in form of video compilation/collage, a documentary of artist interviews, footage of performances, nature, and more content related to the central artistic values listed below. Physical components include a booklet of all materials that can be transcribed, as well as a large collage of artist bios, photos, quotes and cutouts that represents the DIY, “cut-up” aesthetic of all of these artists. All of this expresses the artists’ shared values of honoring the earth, pursuing social justice especially through intersectional feminism and environmentalism, spirituality, DIY art, challenging classical canons and experimenting with how we can make art, how we can live our lives. These connections are illustrated with strings of yarn stretching across the physical collage, drawing attention to the sharing of these passions between all the featured artists, despite most of the them not knowing each other.
This archive honors and adds to my source, and archives my future. May those of us who fragment and rearrange what we are taught to create a new whole that suits us better, make way for others to discover and explore all the possibilities of this life. While this is a self-centered piece and my own work is juxtaposed with that of my biggest influences and inspirations, I also aim to acknowledge the privileges that empower these figures. My position in the larger society as a white queer able-bodied AFAB with financial privilege allows for significant resources and support that many are denied. Acknowledging this, the installation booklet includes an additional section of the archive with references to related historical archives, and a list of under-resourced artists in numerous genres and mediums with ways to support them.
See, I Told You It’s Real! is an archival installation combining interviews, performance footage, and biographical sketches of current experimental vocalists working in the contemporary music and adjacent scenes. All the artists included have shared identities and experiences of being queer and/or AFAB, feminist, having spiritual inclinations, and challenging classical or traditional canons to carve a unique musical path for themselves. It is accompanied by a booklet that functions as an expansive bibliography and directory towards more art aligned with these values, aesthetics and identities, as well as under-resourced artists of myriad genres and mediums.
The ongoing collection will be displayed in the Calarts Wavecave Fall 2024 in the form of video and physical collage. For viewing information, to request a copy of the installation booklet currently serving as the primary archive, or if you would like to be included in the archive either as an experimental vocalist or under-resourced artist, please reach out via my contact page.