Worries - we all have them. They keep us awake at night, can influence our behavior and at times be great motivators. My newest work and "series" is about these thoughts, some of which can be some of our most private inner conversations.
This project is a natural forward progression in my work (having dealt with loss of innocence/ fear of what is in the shadows in No Adults Allowed & safety/ security/ the need to shelter from the outside world in Sleeping Houses). Inspired by a perfect combination of family history ( Catholic and Jewish family - both known for worrying), and an adopted Greek grandmother that collected worry beads; this work is a mixed media portrait of humanity and the individuals participating in the project.
Worry beads are something to sooth the soul, to handle while nervous, to give a place for worried energy to go. I decided in dealing with the idea of worries, not only to delve into the concept of worrying but to try and transform the worries I’m dealing with. I’ve asked people to write down their worries for me, specifically 19 to 21 worries they have, as a strand of worry beads has 19 to 21 beads per strand. With their worries I am creating actual ceramic worry beads- one strand of beads per person- forming the beads with the actual written worry. As the beads are made, the clay must be fired in an oven to transform it into a ceramic bead at which point the written worry is burned up, not able to withstand the heat of the oven.
Depending on how it’s looked at - this act of burning the worry either traps the worry in the bead or releases it into the smoke of the fire, both transforming the energy of the worry into another form. These strands of beads are made to be a portrait of the writer of the worries, via color, form, decoration and texture. Then after the strands are completed they are photographed in the hands of the worrier. This both allows the contact of the worrier with the object created from their worries and allows for a portrait that shows another emotional detail in how they respond to holding the object created of their emotions.
