Portfolio > Making Light with Things

Making Light with Things
Watercolor and Screenprint on paper, hand cut and assembled, accompanied by digital inkjet prints
2009
Making Light with Things (gallery view)
Watercolor and Screenprint on paper, hand cut and assembled, accompanied by digital inkjet prints
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Sgt. John B. Ogburn III
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Sgt. Benjamin C. Morton
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Pvt. Oscar Sauceda
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army 1st Lt. Aaron N. Seesan
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Sgt. Kenneth J. Schall
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Spc. Tyler L. Creamean
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Marine Cpl. Julian M. Woodall
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009
Making Light with Things
Army Sgt. Carl J. Morgain
Digital Photograph
30 x 30 inches
2009

This work started out as a way to memorialize my mom, who had recently passed away. I wanted to capture the importance humor played in her life, specifically how she taught my siblings and me to use it in navigating difficult times.

For the piece itself, I used thousands of handmade miniature party hats to map out portraits of each American soldier who died on my birthday during the Iraq War. I chose this subject because the war was the first world event I had had difficulty comprehending and dealing with after my mom's death.

Not surprisingly, the primary media sources that engaged my thinking about the war were "The Daily Show" and "The Onion". It was while watching the former and assembling hats that I had the idea for how to complete the piece itself. I took this as a sign of my mom's approval.