American Flora, I

hand cut collage, digitally manipulated

16 x 20

$500

In West Harlem, we are surrounded by parks - Riverside and Riverbank, St. Nicholas, Jackie Robinson, and Morningside Park. These are sites of escapism, giving residents a chance to reconnect with nature and feel a part of something greater than themselves. Yet, we are never fully distanced from urbanity in West Harlem, no matter how lush and green the parks are. There will always be the Mr. Softee jingle, a baby wailing, a basketball bouncing--and we wouldn't want it any other way. American Flora is a surreal collage series commenting on the position of women in the sociopolitical ecosystem of the United States. The collages portray women in athletic power poses, but their heads have been replaced with botanical elements like flowers or vines. I started making collages in reaction to the 2016 election to explore extreme anxiety, manifested in nature worship and escapism. What would it mean for West Harlem residents to allow themselves to be consumed by nature?