Prick - Meditations on Act 1, Scene 4
“Prick love for pricking you”
“Prick - Meditations on Act 1, Scene 4” responds to William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and took on a multitude of forms. The response began as a set of installations in the Fall of 2019, and conclude with the artist book shown above. I was drawn to Act 1, Scene 4 because of it is the metaphorical “pre-game” that takes place between Romeo and his men before their arrival at the Capulet Mansion. As a scene, Shakespeare’s use of innuendo and his discussion of love serves as a backbone for the rest of the play, and foreshadows the ill-fated narrative that is to be acted out across the entire play.
I was interested in the re-presentation of the play across time and the re-imagining that occurs with each iteration. In theater, Shakespeare’s works in theory are meant to be presented as contemporary works, presenting Shakespeare’s language in context with the current moment. With this in mind, iterations like Baz Luhrmann’s 1990’s iteration of the play and West Side Story, are much more truthful presentations of the text when compared to plays which attempt to act out the work as it was presented during Shakespeare’s time. With this freedom to reimagine the narrative I look many liberties when considering my own relation to the text and its representation.
Details for the Artist Book: Edition of 37. Silkscreened cover with Risographed interior, Rivet Bound. 11 x 15.5 inches.
Achilles and Patroclus
Silkscreen on Plexi-glass and Panel
This work responds to an image from art history of Achilles and his lover/compatriot/first-man Patroclus. In this image, originally a painting from the interior tondo of a greek vessel, Achilles tenderly sees to an arrow wound sustained by Patroclus during battle. The inherent sexuality is felt through Patroclus' exposed genitals, his splayed legs, and the way one man cares for another. I put this image in context with a used trojan condom wrapper, thinking both about the prick of the arrow that entered Patroclus' arm and the prick of sex.
Spear Bearer
Inkjet Print, Battery-Powered Rainbow, and Golden Condom on Pedestal
This work is part of a larger series I did on Romeo and Juliet thinking about the pre-game that is performed in Act 1, Scene 4 by Romeo and his compatriots. The scene asks for a cast of characters including a number of torch bearers. I began to reflect on this canonical image from art history and the idealized male form. Romeo and his compatriots meditation on love and sex is reflected in the idealized form of the Spear bearer. I was also drawn to the fact that their mediation isn't limited to male and female relationships and I began to consider the queering of this text. I like that the Spear bearer simultaneously holds the rainbow while also suggesting other sexual acts. The light up rainbow is then attached to this pedestal which displays this golden condom propped up against the wall.
Rodger - Roger
Lithograph stone and Harmonica
This work began as a drawing on a lithograph stone of a blow job. After finishing and etching the drawing into the stone I began the process of printing the image and on the first run through the press the stone cracked in half. It became this cursed image as the sexual act had defiled the stone. The work now exists as both a lithograph print of the two parts separated by a few inches and the lithograph stone itself since I have broken it into these two distinct parts. A whole now separated into parts.
After Act Up
Inkjet print on Blue Craft Paper
Leo
Four-Part Risograph Poster