Why parades are important to me.
Celebration is serious, it’s an anti-hierchical act of social architecture. Class, role, and self, are temporarily inversed, and the streets become occupied public property. Parades and festivals are present rituals of collective celebration. A participant communes with his/her ancestors by upholding the rituals of celebration. Parades are a social narrative; through the symbols and tableaus presented, the spectator is told a story about their society. Processions and celebrations are necessary to the healthiness and well being of a democratic society, as it recognizes the importance of the people living in a place. The concepts of the parade connect with my own goal; to promote stories of connection and community.
While investigating ways to visually depict the experience of a parade, I first started creating paintings. In paintings, I selected and juxtaposed archetypal figures and built them with an array of materials. The pursuit of this idea led me to organize an actual pedestrian parade that involved participants including; artists in hand made costumes, a community choir, and a high school marching band.
While investigating ways to visually depict the experience of a parade, I first started creating paintings. In paintings, I selected and juxtaposed archetypal figures and built them with an array of materials. The pursuit of this idea led me to organize an actual pedestrian parade that involved participants including; artists in hand made costumes, a community choir, and a high school marching band.
People's Joy parade Invitations year 1
The first year of the parade, I made it a personal project to create handmade invitations for friends. I worked with Steven and Alycia at All Along Press to create three different silk screened images that I could then personalize. I tried to imagine each of my friends in a different costume.
